The government’s response to the Culture, Media & Sport Committee’s report on business events has now been published, and you can view it via the above link.
This is in response to the CMS Select Committee report into business events which was published in July, and to which evidence was given by both The Business of Events and Events Industry Alliance, alongside Liverpool Experience Campus.
That report raised several concerns regarding the cuts in funding for business events via the BTA, and the withdrawal of its Business Events Growth Programme.
The headline response is that following DCMS Committee pressure, the government has acknowledged the unique contribution of business events to the wider events industry and has agreed to a key recommendation from the Committee to explore a more joined-up approach in supporting the sector.
However, while these are encouraging steps, we still feel that there are areas of the government’s response that require further consideration, and with the support of the All Party Parliamentary Group for Events, we are now seeking a further meeting with the Minister and officials to clarify some of those points and to continue to seek assurances for the long term support of the sector and also to ensure that business events are front and centre in terms of the Governments forthcoming National Events Strategy.
Commenting on the government’s response, Dame Caroline Dinenage MP, Chair of the DCMS Committee said:
“Following pressure from the committee, the government has now said that it recognises the unique contribution conferences, exhibitions and trade fairs make to the events landscape and hinted at a more cohesive approach to supporting the sector. It will now need to make sure that its words are translated into action.
“With this vital industry needing support to further boost its economic contribution, the unseemly blame game between the Government and the British Tourism Authority over the withdrawal of funding from the Business Events Growth Programme is an unhelpful distraction.”
The committee’s report, which was published in July, warned that the UK’s multi-billion-pound conference, exhibition and trade fair sector risked falling behind overseas competitors and missing out on valuable economic opportunities without a new focus and commitment to funding from government.
Among the committee’s recommendations were for the government to recognise business events as a distinct, trade-driven sector separate from major events and tourism policy and for the establishment of a new long-term national strategy.
The response reveals that business events will be included as part of a cross-sectoral strategy on major events by spring next year, with the government ‘acknowledging their own unique contribution to the events landscape’. It also says that the forthcoming Visitor Economy Growth Strategy will set out an ambition and commitment to exploring a more cohesive cross-government approach to supporting business events.
The response also says that officials are exploring ways to coordinate government attendance at business events and formalise the process of securing early advocacy from ministers. The report specifically pressed the government on ministerial engagement with the sector, which we know has been lacking.
We will provide further updates as they become available and we continue to work together, and with government, to achieve our shared objectives on behalf of the entire business events sector.