The Power of Events has reached more than 3,000 pupils from 17 schools as part of its Schools Engagement Programme pilot in the East of England and is calling for industry support as it prepares to expand the initiative nationally.

Launched in January 2024, the pilot aims to inspire the next generation of event professionals, by introducing pupils aged 13-18 to the dynamic range of opportunities within the events industry and enhancing their understanding of the sector as a viable career path.

During the pilot, the engagement numbers soared to a promising 65% average in pupils’ awareness of the sector and career consideration post-presentation, up from an initial 2% pre-presentation.

Following this initial success, The Power of Events is set to roll out the programme across additional regions in the UK, starting in the Autumn term in September 2024. The scalable model, backed by pilot tested processes and feedback results, aims to engage all 4,210 secondary schools across all four nations within the next five years.

Call to action

The Power of Events is calling on businesses to collaborate with their local event industry community to be part of this educational project by sponsoring new regional rollouts. Sponsors will enable direct impact in shaping the educational journey of thousands of pupils across circa 100 schools in their local region.

Industry professionals can also volunteer as Schools Ambassadors, playing a pivotal role in presenting The Power of Events content in their local schools across the new regions, introducing them to the seven sectors and five routes into the industry.

The Power of Events founder Rick Stainton said: “This initiative not only provides an excellent CSR opportunity but also helps support the future of the UK events industry – we have over 200 Schools Ambassadors already signed up and ready to go into schools as soon as new regions are confirmed.”

WeImplement CEO and founder Zoe Lucy, who took part in the pilot as a school ambassador, said: “It was inspiring to witness the transformation from initial scepticism to an 80% show of hands from students considering a future in our industry. The experience was incredibly fulfilling, and we encourage anyone interested in joining us to reach out!”

For more information on how to become a sponsor and/or to register as a Schools Ambassador, please contact The Power of Events at [email protected]