UKEVENTS, the umbrella organisation for the UK events industry, attended a key reception hosted by the Secretary of State for the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) on 31 July.
The event, held in Manchester, featured Michael Hirst OBE, Lead for Advocacy and Government Relations at UKEVENTS, who engaged with newly appointed Secretary of State, Lisa Nandy.
In her speech, Nandy outlined her vision for growth across DCMS sectors, though she did not specifically address tourism and events. Despite this, UKEVENTS remains optimistic about the potential for the events sector to become a core component of DCMS policies.
UKEVENTS emphasised the significant role of the events industry in economic prosperity, social transformation, and regional growth. It has submitted a letter to Nandy and the Minister for Tourism, Chris Bryant, detailing key requests, including the development of a Nationwide Event Strategy and the alignment of major events with government priorities in creative industries, science, technology, and cultural arts.
Michael Hirst OBE expressed optimism following his discussion with Nandy: “We are encouraged by the vision for growth and eager to demonstrate how the events industry can contribute significantly to her objectives. The events sector is crucial in driving economic and social growth, and we are ready to support the government’s agenda.”
