BVEP welcomes the Chancellor’s additional business support but will need to understand how much of this will support event businesses through to their sustained recovery.
The Chancellor has responded to the Partnership’s ask for extensions to current business support through the announcements on the extension of the furlough scheme, support for the self-employed, the introduction of the Restart Grants and the extension of business rates relief and VAT.
However there’s a need to look more closely at the extent of these and other measures in so far as they apply to the Events Industry, including the additional funds allocated for the Cultural Recovery Fund.
Previous announcements of similar measures have not always extended to event business and freelancers. Recent research shows delivering additional payments to businesses through local authorities has been slow and in some cases non-existent.
Until the fine detail of the announcements becomes clear the Industry remains cautious in its appreciation of the impact on the measures in helping the Industry sustain its activities until the planned reopening in May & June.
The reopening roadmap does not mean an instant recovery for the Industry. As has been constantly emphasized events take months to plan and many will not return until well into the back end of 2021 and many more until 2022. On this basis event businesses will need more support than many other sectors of the economy which can open reasonably immediately when permitted to do so.
Furthermore if social distancing and other non-pharmaceutical interventions are to remain, which impact capacities at events, this will significantly reduce profitability and be another burden on event businesses.
Events have a pivotal role to play in the UK’s economic revival through business events showcasing Britain’s trade and knowledge to the world and cultural events bringing communities together.
The BVEP will continue to press Government to recognize the specific plight of individual businesses, freelancers and the self-employed working in the Events Industry, through the recovery period and look for more targeted support.
Notes to editors
For further information on BVEP please contact Hollie Luxford on 07506 016507 or at
About the BVEP
The Business Visits and Events Partnership’s (BVEP) vision is to support sustainable growth for the UK’s £70 billion UK Events Industry. BVEP’s mission is to support growth across the entire sector via advocacy, networking, collaboration and a collective voice.
BVEP’s objectives are to:
- Operate an umbrella organisation to represent, promote and further the interest of member organisations involved in the United Kingdom Events Industry
- Advance the interests, standing, quality, sustainability and growth of the United Kingdom Events’ Industry
- Seek greater collaboration across the Events’ Industry sectors on common issues
- Forge close links with Government departments, including devolved Governments where possible via representation that can influence favourable policies towards the Industry. In particular, maintain strong relationships with key sponsoring departments, DCMS, DIT and BEIS
- Seek a stronger link with the Creative Industries and other related sectors
- Encourage joint events
- Increase the focus on professionalism and skills development.
BVEP Partners
• ABPCO (Association of British Professional Conference Organisers)
• AEME (Association for Events Management Education)
• Business Travel Association
• Core Cities
• Events Industry Alliance (AEO, AEV, ESSA)
• Events Industry Forum
• EMA (Event Marketing Association)
• EVCOM (Event & Visual Communications Association)
• HBAA (Hotel Booking Agents Association)
• ICCA (International Congress & Convention Association)
• IASB (International Association of Speakers Bureaus)
• London & Partners
• Meetings Industry Association
• Meet in Ireland
• MPI
• NOEA (National Outdoor Events Association)
• PCMA (Professional Convention Management Association)
• PLASA (Professional Lighting and Sound Association)
• PSA (Production Services Association)
• Tourism Northern Ireland
• Unique Venues of London
• VisitBritain
• Visit Wales
• VisitScotland Business Events
Please download below Tourism Alliance's Brief on Tourism Key Points from the 2021 Budget.
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