Kerrin MacPhie, Chief Executive of the Meetings Industry Association, vows to put the industry’s issues on the new government’s agenda.
In my previous column I wrote about the UK business meetings and events sectors’ desire for change and on 4th July the electorate delivered it. Now we have a new government, our priority will be to put the sector’s issues on its agenda and ensure Labour commits to the areas it said it would in its manifesto.
We are aware of the urgency: In our latest quarterly MIA Insights, only 4% of professionals said they felt the sector is supported by the UK government, pinpointing recruitment challenges, international attractiveness and public transport infrastructure among the areas requiring focus.
Investing in the UK’s transport infrastructure is paramount to ensure that the UK continues to be a desirable location to attract world-class business meetings and events, so the MIA will be pressing on this, particularly to maintain current confidence levels.
According to MIA Insights, 73% of the 185 organisations surveyed are confident in the sector, which is seeing longer booking lead times and higher budgets. Thanks to the rising confidence, investment
also continues to increase with 78% of organisations having a dedicated strategy in place – a 10% rise since October 2023.
To help maintain this positivity, we’ll also be ensuring Labour commits to implementing Martyn’s Law and delivers on its promised support for small and medium-sized enterprises, including plans to aide investment planning.
Most importantly, we will continue to push for business meetings and events to become part of the narrative, instead of sitting in the shadow of hospitality, so that when we meet with the new culture secretary Lisa Nandy and Chris Bryant, the minister of state for the department of culture, media and sport, we’ll be in the best position to effect the change the industry so desperately wants.
Readers can also keep up to date with sector developments, guidance and advice by following the Meetings Industry Association on LinkedIn and Twitter.