What will a Labour government mean for the UK events industry?

Martin Fullarddirector of UK industry lobby group The Business of Events, looks at how the new Labour government could work with the events industry to achieve its own policy goals:

Sir Keir Starmer, whose results largely come from the UK general election, emerged as the winner and is set to become the new Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, having led the Labour Party to a landslide victory.

Hopefully this political change will usher in a new era of optimism and ambition not only for the country as a whole, but also for the UK events industry, which has huge potential to support and amplify the policy objectives of any government.

Labour’s triumph should inject new energy into the parliament and a cadre of new members eager to make a significant impact. This rejuvenation is taking place against the backdrop of a much weakened Conservative opposition, a resurgent Liberal Democrats and a diminished presence of the Scottish National Party. Both Reform and the Greens have been successful.

Does the Labour Party, which has been vocal about the events sector over the past 12 months, really understand how events can help achieve wider political goals?

The events industry is an economic powerhouse: trade shows and exhibitions are ready markets where businesses can grow, conferences keep us up to date and network, meetings help us make plans, and association congresses are places where our global experts learn from each other and improve our quality of life in medicine, science, technology, and almost everything else.

Business of Events has identified a number of policy initiatives which, if adopted by the new Government, could unlock significant growth and strengthen the sector. These initiatives were formulated as part of a wide-ranging UK policy consultation in 2023, highlighting the need for updated Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) codes to ensure accurate representation of the industry and targeted support. In addition, the relaxation of visa regimes for international collaboration post-Brexit, the introduction of an Events Tax Relief scheme to attract and support events, and strengthening efforts to position the UK as a leading destination for global events are key steps.

In addition, practical support to increase competitiveness, increased investment in convention bureaus to boost regional and national economic development, and the use of business events as platforms to promote and implement government policies are essential to realizing the full potential of the events sector.

Of course there is Martyn’s law (designed to improve security in publicly accessible areas in the event of a terrorist attack – editor’s note). which was going through the House of Commons when the election was called. The new Government should try to get this through as quickly as possible.

However, the immediate task is to reconnect with Parliament, particularly with the new intake of MPs and Ministers. This involves providing detailed briefing notes to those representing key constituencies with significant event economies, such as Aldershot, Manchester Central, Newport East, Hammersmith & Chiswick, West Ham & Beckton and Meriden & Solihull East – you can Google these constituencies to see which major locations are within them. Ensuring that these MPs understand the economic and social benefits of a growing events industry will be crucial to gaining their support.

The recent defeat of Theresa Villiers, former Chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) for Events, highlights the need for swift action to re-establish this important group. The APPG for Events has played a key role in giving the events industry a strong voice in the UK Parliament. Finding a new Chair and continuing advocacy is essential to maintain this influence.

As we enter this new chapter, we need to step up our advocacy efforts. The work of showcasing and promoting the UK events sector to new MPs, Ministers and policymakers starts now. The recent Policy Forum and other events hosted by TBOE have laid solid foundations, exploring and debating the policy ideas needed to unlock the industry’s potential.

The Policy Agenda published by the TBOE will be presented to the reformed APPG for Events where it will form the terms of reference and will also be shared with key Ministers and officials. This Agenda includes recommendations that are not only necessary but also feasible for the new government to examine and implement. The proposed policies aim to create an environment in which the events industry can thrive.

The election results represent an opportunity for the UK events industry that cannot be missed, and we can only hope that we have some relative stability at departmental level. After 13 Tourism Ministers in 13 years – a span that includes the events industry – a permanent figure at the Department for Media, Culture and Sport would be a welcome change.

With targeted support and the implementation of strategic policies, the sector can play a key role in driving growth and strengthening international cooperation. This is a powerful tool that every government should want to use. Let’s get started.