New research examining the economic value, employment, and key issues for the UK outdoor events sector has been published. Researched by The Power of Events (TPoE) and funded through a grant from The Purple Guide, it is based on drawing together a variety of data points that have provided key numbers, insights, and a stronger evidence base that organisers can use as practical takeaways.
The headline number of at least £25 billion annual economic value of the sector covers the full cascade of value that events generate. It makes outdoor events the single largest component of the UK’s £61.6 billion events industry.
The central finding to the research is straightforward: events generate far more economic value than their organisers see in their own accounts. Every pound of ticket income, sponsorship, or grant triggers roughly £1.50 to £2.80 in spending by visitors, suppliers, and staff.
Claire Drakeley, Research Lead at TPoE, said: “Researching the value of the UK outdoor events sector has required us to explore the extraordinary scope and complexity of this wonderful part of the events industry. To do this, we have to use a range of methods, triangulated together to get a rich picture of the value of outdoor events. We have also discovered the extraordinary magnitude of the impact of the sector, particularly in relation to volunteering and community outdoor events.”
You can download a copy of the research free of charge from Eventindustryforum.co.uk, Thepowerofevents.org, or Ukevents.org.uk