As we bid farewell to another remarkable year, we would like to express our heartfelt gratitude to everyone who has been part of the vibrant UK events industry. Your passion, creativity, and resilience continue to inspire and shape unforgettable moments across the nation.

Optimism in the business meetings and events sector is high, with average event budgets on the rise, according to the Meetings Industry Association’s (MIA) latest MIA Insights.

UKEVENTS, the umbrella organisation of the UK’s events industry, is pleased to announce the findings of its anticipated UK Events Report 2024. The report, compiled by Great Potential Consultancy, highlights the industry’s critical role in the economy, generating £61.653 billion annually and affirming its resilience following the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic.

VisitBritain’s programme to support Britain to secure international business events and increase delegate attendance has resulted in a boost to the economy of £45.5 million, with 62 business events supported in 18 cities across the nations and regions.

VisitScotland has published its National Events Strategy for 2024-2035 which aims to build on the events industry’s many achievements to date. The strategy refresh has been shaped by the Scottish Government, our Industry and Events Directorate, Scotland’s Events Industry Advisory Group (EIAG), Local Authorities, COSLA, Trade Union representatives, and those who responded to the consultation process.

The All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) for Events is set for its first meeting in the new Parliament, with Shaun Davies, Member of Parliament for Telford (Labour), as Chair Elect.

The Association of Event Organisers (AEO) has announced that its chief executive officer, Chris Skeith OBE, will step down at the end of the year after a remarkable 10 years of service. Chris Skeith, who is also UKEVENTS current Chair, will take over from Kai Hattendorf on the 1st of January 2025 as UFI's next chief executive officer.

A national campaign is being launched to educate young people about the vast range of exciting career opportunities available in the ‘Live Events’ sector.

The Events Industry Forum has announced that the deadline for receiving applications for Purple Guide grants this Autumn will be October 18, 2024.

To date, the Forum has awarded over £226,000 in grants for projects supporting the UK outdoor events industry.

UKEVENTS, the umbrella organisation representing the UK Events Industry, was present at the Secretary of State's reception for key Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) stakeholders, held in Manchester on 31st July. Michael Hirst OBE, Lead for Advocacy & Government Relations at UKEVENTS, had the opportunity to speak with the newly appointed Secretary of State, Lisa Nandy.

UKEVENTS, the umbrella organisation for the UK events industry, extends its congratulations to Sir Keir Starmer on his appointment as the new Prime Minister of the United Kingdom. UKEVENTS is eager to collaborate with Prime Minister Starmer and his team, including Lisa Nandy, the new Secretary of State for Culture, to drive forward key initiatives that will strengthen the UK events industry and its contributions to the nation's economy and cultural heritage.

UKEVENTS is pleased to announce the appointment of Tom Clements to its Executive Committee as Vice Chair and as Chair of the Outdoor Events Working Group, a role in which he will spearhead discussions on the unique challenges facing the outdoor events sector.

Read below the latest newsletter from the Events Apprenticeships.

The Business of Events (TBOE) has today published its latest annual International Planner Sentiment Report for 2024, created in partnership with Meet in Ireland and IBTM World.

The business events industry helped to boost the UK economy by £10.9 billion in 2023, according to a new economic report by the Events Industry Alliance (EIA).

The latest research into the UK’s conference and meetings sector suggests that the industry’s post-Covid recovery did not gather momentum in 2023 but rather witnessed a somewhat mixed performance. While there were undoubtedly some venues that were doing really well, others were finding the market more challenging and not experiencing a continuous upward trajectory in business. Rail strikes, a challenging UK economic climate, and continuing post-Covid changes were among a number of factors impacting overall market performance.

The Events Industry Alliance (EIA) – the collective associations of AEO, AEV and ESSA, has published the eighth Size and Scale Index for Exhibitions (SASIE) report.

In a bid to ensure Event Apprenticeships encompass the full spectrum of the industry, a new initiative has been announced, aimed at expanding opportunities beyond the conventional Event Assistant route.