The Government is facing growing pressure to reverse cuts to VisitBritain’s business events team after MPs called the decision “counterproductive” and backed industry demands for a dedicated national strategy for the sector.
In a new report, the Culture, Media and Sport Committee concludes that the UK’s £33.6 billion business events sector deserves greater recognition within government and warns the country risks losing ground to international competitors without stronger leadership, long-term strategy and sustained investment.
It represents a significant endorsement of concerns raised by industry leaders over the past year, including the recent reduction in VisitBritain’s business events team and the withdrawal of ringfenced funding for VisitBritain’s Business Events Growth Programme (BEGP)
Among its recommendations, the cross-party committee calls on the Government to:
- Develop and publish a standalone, long-term national business events strategy aligned with the UK’s industrial strategy.
- Establish a sector-led National Business Events Council to strengthen coordination between government and industry.
- Maintain funding for promoting UK business events internationally.
- Reconsider the decision to reduce the size of VisitBritain’s business events team.
- Transfer responsibility for business events from the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) to the Department for Business and Trade, supported by a dedicated cross-government structure and sustained funding.
The committee also recommends reviewing the cumulative cost pressures facing the sector, including VAT, Air Passenger Duty, Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) charges and business rates, while simplifying visa processes and improving transport connectivity to help the UK compete more effectively with European destinations.
The report follows evidence given to MPs by industry representatives, including Faye Dyer, chief executive of The ACC Liverpool Group, Rachel Parker, director of the Events Industry Alliance, and Robert Wright, founder and chief executive of The Business of Events.
In its conclusions, the committee warns that the UK lacks the coordinated leadership, strategic direction and funding models seen in competing destinations such as Germany, Spain and Italy, while responsibility for the sector within government remains fragmented.
It also expresses particular concern over the recent scaling back of VisitBritain’s business events activity, describing the move as “counterproductive” at a time when economic growth should be the priority.
Dame Caroline Dinenage MP, chair of the CMS Committee, said: “The huge contribution they make to the economy demonstrates the exceptional quality of the conferences, exhibitions and trade fairs held every day across the country.
“The Government’s decision to slash support for business events is utterly irrational and entirely counterproductive, when we should be supporting the sector to boost economic growth. It’s time for the Government to show it understands the importance and distinctiveness of the business events sector.”
In a joint statement, the Events Industry Alliance, Liverpool Experience Campus and The Business of Events welcomed the publication of the report following more than a year of engagement with the inquiry.
The organisations urged DCMS to implement the committee’s recommendations in full and called on both the department and VisitBritain to reverse the recent reductions to the national business events team and restore funding for the Business Events Growth Programme.
The statement said: “We welcome the recommendations in the report, and now urge the Department for Culture, Media and Sport to implement all of the committee’s recommendations in full, and in addition for both DCMS and VisitBritain to reverse the recent and devastating cuts to their business events team and restore funding for the Business Events Growth Programme.”
The organisations added that they remain committed to working with government to ensure the UK continues to be recognised as one of the world’s leading destinations for business events and to help drive economic growth across every region of the country.