The Power of Events platform launched last Thursday at an event at Here at Outernet in London, which saw partners and supporters join the core team to explore the new UK event industry platform.

The platform showcases the seven core sectors that make up the UK events industry – business and brand experiences, bespoke sports events, exhibitions and congress, outdoor events and festivals, music and live performances, public and third sector, and weddings and private events. Content includes overview videos, 100+ industry community organisations, 44 news articles referenced, 90+ industry calendar events profiled and 100s of business supporters recognised.

Founder Rick Stainton led the launch presentation, touching on the origins of The Power of Events, which evolved from the One Industry One Voice campaign during the pandemic, followed by a quick tour of the platform. He said that this is just the start of the “mission to better showcase, better respect and better value the UK events industry”, adding that those working in the industry, those who want to work in the industry, and those who support the industry, will all benefit.

“We’ve seen how bringing together some of our leading event businesses and organisations with academic support from our ten University partners has the potential to be a game changer in the way our industry is seen and understood. Making those connections was the first step – now we’ll be curating those relationships to help deliver robust data for the industry and evidence-based research.”

Event photography by Jonathan JT Taylor, Aniseed Photo

Attendees at the event represented all sectors, which included Notting Hill Carnival, AEG Europe, ASM Global, London Marathon, George P Johnson, TRO, ExCel London, WRG, Identity, DRPG, Wasserman, Smyle, Montgomery Group, Rego, Star Group, SunBelt Rentals, Creative Technology, JA Productions, Event Grads, SFL Group, Entourage Pro, alongside university, association, support organisation and media partners.

The audience was also shown a few video messages sent in from Melvin Benn at Live Nation/Festival Republic, Jeremy Rees – CEO of ExCel London, Mike Kunheim – MD of Jack Morton Worldwide, Gill Tee – co-founder of Blackdeer Festival, Rachael McGuickin – Visit Belfast and Dodge Woodall, founder of Bournemouth 7s Festival.

Stainton urged attendees to explore, support, and share the platform. “We want your feedback on the site, so we can continue to evolve it. The next phase will be to develop the engagement app, which will be launched with a Four Nations roadshow in May. Longer term, we are also working on defining the jobs, skills and titles within our sector, and plan to engage more with schools, colleges and universities.”

Director of The Power of Events, Simon Hughes also highlighted the importance of engaging with both students and the next generation of young talent as a critical element in the overall mission moving forwards. “We work in a world where our ability to deliver creative solutions to often complex and challenging requests sets us apart from many other career options. That diversity and the wide range of skills we require to maintain our world-class reputation is both an opportunity and a barrier. This resource has been designed to help us break down those barriers and make us more competitive when it comes to attracting new talent into the UK events industry.”

The engagement app will be used to support existing research projects, giving the industry the ability to gain quick data, for example the impact of train strikes is on the industry, and collect longer term data. “We will work with our research partners and the newly developed action group to devise what they need, and what the industry needs on a more holistic level,” said Stainton.

Stainton and Hughes both thanked the Taskforce and Action Groups that have been established to ensure full cross-sector representation, all the partners and supporters of The Power of Events so far, as well as the partners who supported the launch event.