VisitBritain awards £200,000 to help kick-start the UK business events industry

Applications have now closed for VisitBritain’s Domestic Support Fund, an initiative that was designed to help kick-start the recovery of the UK business events industry. Launched in June 2021, the funding initiative has awarded a total of £200,000 (USD$274,809) to 29 UK events, including College of Mental Health Pharmacy Annual Conference, Association of Cardio-Thoracic Anaesthetists and Critical Care (ACTACC) Annual Scientific Meeting and British Stainless Steel Association Conference. The £200,000 Domestic Support Fund was available for not-for-profit organisations and charities hosting meetings, conferences and events in the UK from June to December 2021. Events from 100 to 500 delegates taking place in the UK were eligible to apply, with the fund opening for bids on 9 June 2021. Kerrin MacPhie, head of business events, VisitBritain, said: “We are very pleased that this targeted fund has been able to support so many events at such an integral time in the sector’s recovery. “We are committed to growing business events to the UK and the fund has provided timely and valuable support as the sector gets back to doing what it does best, delivering world class events.” While the Domestic Support Fund has now closed, VisitBritain’s Business Events Growth Programme remains open to continue to support the development of the UK’s business events sector. The Business Events Growth Programme supports destinations and organisations in the bidding process to attract future international events. The fund also supports the growth of existing events to an international audience. Organisations can also apply, on an ongoing basis, for UK Government advocacy support in bidding for international events or growing the international profile of existing events, including letters of support and video messages from ministerial and senior officials.