The Business Visits & Events Partnership (BVEP) launched a manifesto for the UK meetings and events industry at the National Events Month Celebration event last night (27th October), at the Museum of London.
The manifesto, entitled 'Events Can Win for Britain' includes 39 recommendations under eight objectives aimed at influencing government policy to boost growth in the UK events industry. Providing subvention funds to DMOs, creating a Special Events visa, and increasing the annual tax exemption for staff parties and social functions were listed as key proposals in the document.
The objectives are to:
- Create a role for government within the events sector
- Increase government involvement in the process of attracting events to Britain
- Empower and require local government to use events for the benefit of local communities
- Enforce better regulation
- Create a competitive taxation regime on the global stage
- Improve infrastructure and transport
- Commit adequate resources to those organisations that sell Britain
- Recognise the importance of training, education and research in the sector
The manifesto has taken on the GREAT campaign branding and was put together by the Manifesto Working Group, led by Brian Kirsch of Event Assured and EVCOM, with input from the BVEP’s 22 representative bodies.
Brian Kirsch commented: "Increasingly we are getting the ear of government and we wanted a document that not only sells our industry, but explains how ministers and policy makers can create a better environment for the industry to flourish."
BVEP Chairman Michael Hirst added: “With a General Election only seven months away, now is a crucial time to start convincing politicians, prospective parliamentary candidates and those who compile the Party manifestos that the events Industry can help to shape Britain’s future.
“The document is comprehensive and lays out the ways government can support the £39.1bn events industry; any political party seeking to win the election needs to take note of it.”
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