The Business Visits and Events Partnership, the umbrella body and advocacy group representing the UK events sector, has published its Shape of Events report.
The study was compiled using responses from over 300 professionals and organisations from across the UK events sector and authored by Richard Smith from Team Tourism Consulting and John Gallery, Chair of the BVEP’s Research Group.
The report was sponsored by brand communications agency Davies Tanner, and contains several headline findings:
- Overall event activity was down 95 percent across the UK during the past twelve months.
- The BVEP estimates the UK events industry lost £57 billion of value from the pre-pandemic level of £70 billion.
- 17 percent of event and exhibition businesses permanently ceased trading during 2020.
- 126,000 jobs were lost during the same period.
- However, the BVEP finds that the pandemic has also been a catalyst for change and innovation across the entire events sector.
- While the industry has been far more engaged with government during this period, there is still a need for greater, deeper and longer-term industry representation.
The Shape of Events (Business Visits and Events Partnership website)
