BVEP shares Strategic Plan of Work, Nigel Huddleston leaves tourism minister role, and CHS Birmingham launches next event.

This Monday’s Insights (September 26) feature brings you the BVEP’s Strategic Plan of Work, the Meetings Industry Association (mia)’s response to government businesses’ energy bill price cap, and more.

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Nigel Huddleston is leaving his ministerial post as tourism minister to move to the Whips Office.

Following his departure from the role, Simon Richards, treasurer of beam (the association for business events, accommodation and meetings), told Meetings and Incentive Travel magazine: “We all urgently need to educate Nigel Huddleston’s replacement as the minister responsible for our industry about the specific needs of the sector and ensure that business events is high on his or her agenda, not well down below sport and other events.

“This makes the need for all business events sector companies to join the BVEP campaign and register under one of three SIC Codes, particularly 82302, even more urgent so that the minister and the Government have the data to recognise the sector’s issues more clearly.”

The Meetings Industry Association (mia) has responded to the government’s announcement that businesses’ energy bills will receive a six-month price cap.

Kerrin MacPhie, mia chief executive, said: “The package of support will provide much-need reassurance to those operating within the business meetings and events sector, however for a limited time only.

“With energy prices fixed for six months, operators can at least now begin to forecast costs and subsequent pricing more effectively, while also being protected from soaring and simply unsustainable cost increases.”

“It is vital that these support packages are evaluated by government on an ongoing basis, and that government recognise sectors outside of the Standard Industrial Classification when determining sector-specific levels of support. We know from the results of our recent survey of 129 industry organisations, which featured questions on the cost-of-living crisis, that the rising energy costs are of huge concern to the sector.

“Operating within a highly competitive, price-sensitive market, many have conceded to heavily reduced profits that reflect a further setback to recovery plans, so these cost-savings will prove influential in the short-term as we continue to witness the green shoots of recovery.”

The Business Visits & Events Partnership (BVEP) has published its Strategic Plan of Work for the coming year, as the organisation continues to engage with the new government on behalf of the UK events industry.

As ‘the collective voice of the UK’s world leading events sector’, BVEP’s plan takes priority objectives from its five sector-specific Working Groups. The groups include Advocacy & Government Relations, Business Events, Outdoor Events, Skills, Talent & Diversity and Research & Business Intelligence. These objectives cover a wide range of subjects, such as raising the industry’s profile to government departments, developing a plan to adopt the new sector-specific SIC/SOC codes and promoting the outdoor sector to re-establish a more competitive supply chain.

“This plan not just sets out our goals for the year ahead, but also makes clear our commitment to represent the entire UK events economy as it continues to face its many challenges. We are also looking to the future, to ensure that the BVEP has the right structure, resources and voice to serve the industry as effectively as possible.”

Chris Skeith OBE, BVEP Chair

As part of its government relations and advocacy activity, the BVEP is liaising with the new government on how the events sector can support the delivery of its priorities of growth and levelling up. It highlights the contribution business events make to inward investment, trade, innovation and exports and how cultural events enhance local communities’ social prosperity and wellbeing.

The Strategic Plan is available for download here from the BVEP website.

CHS Birmingham returns for its second outing this autumn with a focus on personal and professional growth. The show, which is fast becoming a celebration of Birmingham’s business events scene, is enjoying the legacy of the 2022 Commonwealth Games, and the global attention on the destination.

The show will also return to the ICC Birmingham, one of its founding partners, as well as enjoy the support of The Birmingham and West Midlands Convention Bureau. Now, with the meetings and events industry continuing to return to pre-pandemic levels of activity, and the opportunity of a Commonwealth Games legacy in the region, CHS Birmingham is looking to encourage both professional and personal growth for every delegate and exhibitor at the show.

“We’re putting together an educational programme which is tailor made to the individual. Our research shows that the biggest demand from delegates is either to look at ways to enhance their own careers, or look at developing themselves as people,” commented Emma Cartmell, CEO & Founder, CHS Birmingham. 

“There has been a lot of talk around how the industry Is performing right now, for us though, it’s now about supporting individual event professionals. Donna Cunningham, Sales Director for Conventions, NEC Group, commented, “CHS returning to Birmingham is an exciting opportunity for the attending hosted buyers to meet with teams from a range of destinations and venues at the ICC to do business. The educational programme is packed with inspiring speakers, presenting a great developmental opportunity for us to discuss key topics, share ideas and learn from each other as we bounce back from the pandemic.”

Outside of the educational programmes, CHS Birmingham will be introducing new venues and suppliers, as well as our existing clients, so that when delegates are not in meetings, they can take time to focus on cementing relationships with key destinations, venues, and event suppliers.

“It is fantastic to welcome back CHS Birmingham to the city’s event calendar, after an unforgettable first show last autumn,” commented Steve Knight, Senior Business Tourism Manager, Birmingham and the West Midlands Convention Bureau. 

“The West Midlands is buzzing after hosting the most successful UK-based Commonwealth Games during the summer, with our hospitality and event venues providing a brilliant backdrop for 1.5 million ticket holders, and more than five million people who visited Birmingham city centre during the Games fortnight.

“We look forward to joining forces with partners across our business events sector to once again show delegates why Birmingham and the wider region should be top of their list when hosting their next event.”

CHS Birmingham will also be evolving its brand to take on some of the flavours of the city over the summer, and to bring it even closer to global ‘brand Birmingham’. The show takes place 1 st November 2022 at the ICC Birmingham.