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Events

Business events leaders to give evidence at Culture Media & Sport Select Committee inquiry into UK business events sector

by jummy84
written by jummy84

A panel of senior business events industry leaders have been invited to provide oral evidence to the Culture, Media and Sport (CMS) Select Committee on Tuesday 9 December within the Houses of Parliament as part of their wider inquiry into the UK’s Major Events sector. 

Those invited to give evidence include Rachel Parker, Director at the Events Industry Alliance, and Faye Dyer, Chief Executive at ACC Liverpool who will appear alongside Robert Wright, founder and CEO of industry Think Tank, the Business of Events.

Chaired by Dame Caroline Dineage DBE MP, the CMS Committee is comprised of an influential group of cross-party MPs, who will examine the challenges faced by the industry and explore how the sector can tap into new opportunities for growth and collaboration. 

The inquiry will examine how business events can drive trade and investment across the UK, the role of the UK Government in supporting and growing this, and examples of best practice and lessons learnt from other countries or the devolved nations. The Committee will also consider the impact of recent challenges on the sector including the UK’s exit from the European Union.

Following the inquiry, the committee will propose its recommendations to Government, with the initial report expected in the Spring of 2026.

The Business of Events, Events Industry Alliance, and ACC Liverpool each put forward individual submissions to the Committee earlier this year as part of a bidding process that attracted 256 applications from a broad range of other industries. 

Dame Caroline announced the inquiry during her closing address at The Business of Events: Global Policy Forum, which took place on 1April 2025 at IET London: Savoy Place in Westminster. 

Further information on the session and the work of the Committee can be found here

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Events

MICE sector service charges hot topic at beam Autumn All Members Meeting

by jummy84
written by jummy84

MICE sector service charges were a key discussion point at the association’s Autumn All-Members Meeting on 13th November.

The event, at Woughton House Hotel, included discussions on key industry topics, including a panel session on Service Charge in the MICE Sector.

During the panel, members addressed the need for a consistent and transparent approach if discretionary service charges are used across event venues. Panellists and guests agreed on clearly communicating any service charges from the outset, ensuring they are optional for clients, and guaranteeing that any funds collected are fairly distributed to the event delivery staff. The discussions reflect beam’s new set of service charge guidelines, which will be launched alongside beam’s revised Code of Conduct in early 2026.

Jonathan Read, Leonardo Hotels’ Director of Global Sales & Partnerships UK&I, and one of the day’s panellists, has been actively involved in shaping the service charge guidelines. He shared that internal preparations are already underway across his hotels, stating: “We are proactively training our events teams now so that when beam’s new guidelines launch in the new year, we’ll be fully aligned. The service charge policy will be clear, fair, and visible to every client from day one.”

beam chair, Louisa Watson, reflected on the overall success of the meeting, commenting, “Seeing such engagement and willingness to take part in shaping better practice across our sector has been extraordinary. The service charge guidelines are not a recommendation to charge or not, but guidelines to support all parties for any venue considering it and step forward for transparency and trust in the MICE industry.”

The event concluded on a celebratory note, with attendees raising over £1,000 for Rainbow Trust Children’s Charity through a raffle, demonstrating the community’s commitment to giving back while advancing industry standards.

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Events

BMA House grows education sector conferences with dedicated packages and repeat clients

by jummy84
written by jummy84

BMA House is reporting strong growth in conferences and events from the education community, with a variety of universities, associations and training providers choosing the venue for teaching, research and professional development.  The team has also expanded day delegate rate options to suit academic budgets and timetables.

Recent and repeat education sector partners include UCL, Imperial College London, University of Bath, Birkbeck University, The College of Optometrists, Researcher to Reader, ISBA, Universities and Colleges Employers Association, Institute for Optimum Nutrition, Steplab, and the German Academic Scholarship Foundation. InvestIN also ran a series of summer lectures in August, bringing students into the venue during a traditionally quieter month.

To serve this growing demand, BMA House is developing an Academic Day Delegate Rate for the education sector. The package is intended for Easter and summer holiday periods when many organisations within the sector run conferences, summer schools and teacher development. Pricing includes an introductory saving of ten percent planned for Easter, half term and summer 2026.

Anna Phillips, Deputy Director of Estates Resources, Birkbeck University comments: “Ultimately, the Birkbeck team continue to feel that BMA House is the best choice. As the home of learning for the medical profession it has a rich history of education, which reflects Birkbeck’s own needs and creates a positive association.”

Hannah Robinson, Venue Manager at BMA House, added: “Education is central to who we are, and we are proud to support universities, institutes and training providers as they bring learners together. Our team understands the rhythm of the academic year, and we design packages that keep planning simple, provide great value and deliver a positive experience for every delegate.” 

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Events

Green Events Code of Practice updated to drive clear and bold sector commitments and targets

by jummy84
written by jummy84

The national Green Events Code of Practice (GECoP) has been updated to provide a clear, robust, and nationally consistent framework for event organisers, local authorities, and the supply chain. The revised code reflects current best practices and aligns with national policy, aiming to help the UK live events sector achieve ambitious environmental targets.

The GECoP is published by Vision for Sustainable Events, with the review chaired by LIVE Green. It was supported by a working group that included event sustainability experts—specifically A Greener Future, Creative Zero, and Hope Solutions—as well as event promoters Festival Republic and AEG.

Following a successful 2024 pilot with 10 local authorities focused on integrating the code into their processes, the updated GECoP will be adopted by more than 20 UK cities in 2025. This expansion is the next step toward a national roll-out, ultimately aiming to provide an off-the-shelf framework and baseline for nationally consistent event assessment.

Chris Johnson, Chair of the Vision for Sustainable Events Forum, comments:

“Fundamentally, the Green Code aims to answer the question, ‘What does good look like?’ This refresh brings the code up to date, providing clarity for the sector on best practice and on the action we need to take to achieve meaningful reductions in the environmental impacts of events.”

GECoP is intended to establish a common understanding of best practice, offering clear and robust minimum standards that can be assessed to achieve national consistency. The updated code articulates the sector’s continued commitment to achieving a 50% reduction in emissions by 2030. It also emphasises the industry’s role as a driver of wider societal change.

Targets for energy have been strengthened in this second version, now including a 100% reduction in onsite fossil fuel consumption at live events by 2030. This aligns with wider creative, TV, and film industry commitments. HVO fuel is acknowledged as a transitional bridge where electric or green hydrogen solutions cannot yet meet power needs.

Read the updated code at https://visionsustainableevents.org/green-events-code/

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Event Industry News
Events

The Meetings Industry Association updates essential Martyn’s Law guidance for business events sector

by jummy84
written by jummy84

To support venues ongoing preparations to comply with Martyn’s Law, the Meeting Industry Association (MIA) has updated its practical guidance to help the business meetings and events industry navigate the evolving requirements of the forthcoming legislation.

Working in partnership with leading security experts GSA Global and ASG Rescue, the trade association has published an updated roadmap designed to ensure venues remain ahead of their anticipated obligations as the Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Bill continues to take shape.

The updated guide outlines nine initial steps towards compliance, providing venues with a structured approach to strengthening their safety and security procedures. It also includes revised information on the current legal frameworks, the implications of the proposed legislation for venues of different sizes, and practical tools such as training checklists, risk assessment templates, and communication protocols.

MIA chief executive, Shonali Devereaux, said: “The safety and security of everyone who engages with our venues must remain a top priority for our sector. As Martyn’s Law moves closer to becoming reality, we are committed to ensuring our members are well informed and equipped to act. This updated guidance provides a timely and practical framework for venues to assess their readiness, understand their likely responsibilities, and take meaningful steps towards compliance. As the legislation evolves and discussions progress, the MIA will remain at the forefront, keeping members informed and supported with continued guidance.”

Alun Jones, operations director at ASG Rescue, said: “Martyn’s Law is a vital step towards making public spaces safer by requiring venues and organisers to take deliverable, practical steps to prepare for potential and evolving threats. ASG Rescue developed this Road Map on behalf of the MIA because we fully support the principles behind the legislation. At its core, Martyn’s Law is about having clear, effective plans and procedures in place, that are not overly complex or unnecessarily costly, but ones that can genuinely save lives in an emergency. By promoting awareness, training, and reasonable security measures, it helps build a culture of preparedness that protects both staff and the public without placing unnecessary pressure on resources.”

To download the guidance, visit https://mia-uk.org/Martyns-Law.

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