Power of Events platform moves forward
- Details
From a standing start, over 25K unique visitors have to date visited the platform since launch, with positive feedback. It has seen consistent engagement with the podcast listings and the events calendar.
Helping do all of this are the range of industry community partners representing all seven core sectors - 25 leading Trade Associations, 21 media publications, 30 supporting organisations focused on DEI, sustainability, welfare/skills and 10 university partners.
Over 500 organisations have also already come on board as supporters that include a broad range of industry leaders, as well as many supplier partners. The purpose-driven support and shared values has resulted in £200k now contributed to the operational fund since it was opened a year ago. The immediate priority is to complete the development work on the Industry Insight App ready for a cross four-nation roadshow launch programme in October 2023.
The app is designed to be a useful tool for partners to help them with their insight/data and research needs. Several projects are already in development, including with Leeds Beckett University and also initial planning of supporting a freelance data insight project for later in the year with LIVE, Handle Freelance Solutions, UK Live Event Freelancers Forum and The Back Lounge.
One of the most significant changes in the last four months has been securing the services of its first full-time employee. Sophie Beasor has moved from a freelance, part-time role to become a full-time engagement manager, the team are delighted to have onboard on a permanent basis. Two further missions that have come out of the feedback received since the launch event have also been moving forward, a careers hub and a proposed schools engagement programme.
A clear reduction of talent in the long shadow of Covid and Brexit is still impacting the UK events industry, and the need to showcase the diverse career options and broad range of event types to attract the next generation, is even more important than ever.
A number of supporters and partners already work with their local schools and colleges, but are keen to see how it might be scaled up across the UK, to make a real and permanent difference in understanding the broad seven sector spectrum of our industry and its support communities. A pilot scheme is being developed in one region, East Anglia, to launch by the end of 2023 across 75 schools.
Founder Rick Stainton comments: “Thank you so much to all our supporters and partners who are clearly as passionate as the taskforce and action groups are about the future of our industry, enabling this unprecedented collaboration to grow so rapidly.”
