Incentive & Motivation

With 2012 set to be one of the most significant years for the UK events industry in recent times, the SECC (Scottish Exhibition and Conference Cente) is expecting a massive year across its conference, exhibition and live event businesses.

 On the conference side, the SECC will be hosting some of the most important medical learning and development events of the year, including the British Association of Urological Surgeons 2012 (25-28 June), the World Congress on Active Aging 2012 (13-17 August) the European Congress of Immunology (5-8 September) and Drug Therapy in HIV Infections 2012 (11-15 November). The venue will also play host to Digital 2012 (29-30 March), RenewableUK (30 October – 1 November) and Distripress 2012 (30 September – 3 October), celebrating the wealth of expertise found in these areas within the city.

 Meanwhile, within the exhibition halls, the SECC will be hosting up to 40 exhibitions in both consumer and trade markets. The venue is delighted to welcome a busy new year by introducing the new Holiday & Travel show (10-12 February) and the Fishing Exhibition (22-24 March) and also welcome back some favourites, including; The Scottish Caravan & Outdoor Leisure show (2-5 February), Emigrate Show (11-12 February), The Scottish Wedding Show (18 & 19 February), Model Rail Scotland (24-26 February), Hobbycrafts & Creative Stitches (8-11 March), The Scottish Bike Show (13-15 April), Girls Day Out 20-22 April) & The Scottish Baby Show (27-29 April).

 Added to another major year of live music within the venue, including One Direction, Snow Patrol, Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds, The Wanted, Florence & The Machine, JLS, Westlife, Blink 182, the SECC will once again be providing the very best events, entertainment and education in 2012.

After industry consultation, following the publication last October of the report on ‘UK Subvention Policy and Bid Support Practices for International Conferences’, The Business Visits & Events Partnership (BVEP) has put together a series of recommendations for consideration by John Penrose, MP, Minister for Tourism and other government and industry departments.

The recommendations, which identify specific actions for various stakeholders, will also be submitted to the Department of Business Innovation and Skills, The Home Office Ministers, United Kingdom Trade & Investment (UKTI) and the All Party Parliamentary Group for Events (APPG) as well as other government agencies and industry bodies. 

The key recommendations are:

1. The Events Industry should continue to raise national and local government understanding of the benefits and direct and indirect value that accrues from hosting international conferences, business and cultural events in theUK.

2. The Events Industry should encourage greater national and local government commitment to provide in kind support for event bids, especially when the qualifying event is beneficial to economic growth, scientific and industrial advancement, inward investment, employment and exports, either nationally or in the host destination.

3. The Tourism Unit at the Department of Culture, Media & Sport should publish and disseminate across government departments, a Ministerial Support InitiativePaper to include the timely provision of support letters, assistance on bids and attendance at events.

4. The National Tourism Agencies, supported by UKTI, should develop, through a nationwide business tourism forum, a national bid support best practice paper to facilitate information sharing and identify local support across leading conference and event destinations.

5. Tourism representative bodies currently engaged in VAT reviews should include the potential of reduced rates of VAT for organisers of inbound international congresses and more generally on conference services and venue hire for international events.

6. The UK Borders Agency should introduce special event visas for attendees of business events and conferences where there are over 2,000 overseas delegates.

“Subvention and bid support is an area which can be addressed positively to make our industry more internationally competitive and these recommendations have been put together to this end,” comments Michael Hirst, Chair of the BVEP. 

He added “ A number of initiatives towards meeting many of the objectives set out in the recommendations are already underway. We shall report further in the Spring  on what progress has been made”.

Unique Venues of London (UVL) has announced six new members will join its collection of dynamic events spaces, effective from this month. The most diverse consortium in the city, UVL’s new members includeKewPalace, the National Portrait Gallery, Twickenham Stadium, the Royal Hospital Chelsea, the Wellcome Collection and the Whitechapel Gallery, bringing UVL to a total of 78 members.

Together this enables UVL to offer event organisers and planners several new gallery spaces, royal residences, substantially more outdoor space and another world class stadium in addition to the existing portfolio of museums, iconic buildings and attractions.

A few highlights of the new venues include:

Kew Palace

The most intimate of royal residences,KewPalacehas been a favourite entertainment venue for King’s and Queen’s for centuries, most recently for the celebration of HM Queen Elizabeth’s 80th birthday. Guests can hold events and meetings in its royal splendour including George III’s Dining Room for up to 30 guests, and receptions in the Dining Room, Queen’s Garden, King’s Breakfast Room or King’s Library.KewPalacealso offers tours of the palace including areas not open to the public, as well as tours of the Elizabethan undercroft, housing an extensive display of art drawn from the Royal Collection, including silver and paintings, all with unique links to the building and the Georgian Royal Family.

National Portrait Gallery

The National Portrait Gallery houses the finest collection of portraits in the world, offering a unique insight into the men and women who have shaped British culture from the Middle Ages to the present day. The venue can hold events, meetings and dinners in a range of spaces and galleries over three floors including the Ondaatje Wing Theatre and the rooftop Portrait Restaurant with its unparalleled views overTrafalgar Squareand theLondonskyline. Guests can also experience guided tours of the Gallery, including work across all mediums, from painting and sculpture to photography and video of sitters ranging from Elizabeth I to David Beckham.

Twickenham Stadium

The Home of England Rugby and the National Stadium, Twickenham Stadium brings its unique retractable tiered auditorium along with many other flexible events spaces to UVL. Along with stadium tours, the venue can also host drinks receptions in the player’s tunnel or pitch side, pitch side barbeques for up to 300 guests and even dinner in theEnglandchanging rooms for up to 55 people, hosted by a player.

Royal Hospital Chelsea

Founded in 1682 by King Charles II, the Royal Hospital Chelsea is home to the iconic Chelsea Pensioners. Considered to be one of Sir Christopher Wren’s finest works in brick, the venue offers a 66 acre estate suitable for a whole range of events, teambuilding activities and private tours of theRoyalHospitalled by a Chelsea Pensioner guide. The venue includes numerous indoor and outdoor events spaces such as the Great Hall, State Apartments, Wren Chapel andSouthRanelaghGardens.

Wellcome Collection

Welcome Collection offers inspiring gallery spaces for drinks receptions, historical dining in the surrounds of the Wellcome Library’s reading room, as well as a conference centre with the state of the art Henry Wellcome Auditorium at its heart. Delegates can include tours of the exhibitions and permanent galleries within their meetings and events.

Whitechapel Gallery

Founded in 1901, the Grade II* Arts & Crafts building is a benchmark for contemporary art and a world-class venue for entertaining. For over a century the Gallery has premiered internationally acclaimed artists from modern masters such as Pablo Picasso, Jackson Pollock, Mark Rothko and Frida Kahlo to contemporaries such as Sophie Calle, Lucian Freud, Gilbert & George and Mark Wallinger. Neighbouring the city and located on the edge of the Olympic site, the gallery offers 3,600 sq. m of event space in 13 spaces, including nine galleries, two studios and a purpose-built auditorium suitable for events with up to 500 delegates. The Whitechapel Gallery also provides guided tours and the chance to ‘name an exhibition’.

Moya Maxwell, Chairman of UVL comments: “2012 promises to be an exciting time forLondonand UVL and we are delighted to welcome these new members. Each offers something truly unusual and ensures that the consortium continues to representLondon’s unique history, architecture and heritage – everything that makes the capital a fantastic destination for events. UVL continues to offer venues with a unique and historic connection toLondon, remaining the perfect complement during the Olympic Games period and beyond”.

The new members will be represented in UVL’s new pocket sized brochure available from February. UVL will be promoting all 78 members at the UK Venue Show, 1-2 February, stand number V120. To see all existing UVL members log on to www.uniquevenuesoflondon.co.uk

John Penrose MP, Minister for Tourism, will attend the opening day of International Confex and the International Outdoor Events Exhibition (IOEX) following the collective efforts of theBritainfor Events campaign, International Confex, the All Party Parliamentary Group and Visit England.

 The Minister will attend a networking event before touring the exhibition to gain further insight into theUKevents industry. His attendance follows work done by the industry to gain government support forUKevents and the Minister’s growing interest in the sector and what it can achieve for the growth of UK tourism.

 Talking on behalf of the Britain for Events campaign, Michael Hirst, Chair of the Business Visits & Events Partnership commented, “This is a really significant endorsement of theUKevents industry and a sign of its growth on the government agenda.”

 “As the UK’s premier events exhibition, the lack of senior government attendance in the past has been disappointing, so it’s great news that John Penrose has given up his valuable time to attend,” Hirst concludes.

 “This is a tremendous endorsement of the show and we’re delighted to welcome the Minster to Confex this year,” comments Jonny Sullens, Portfolio Director, Confex Group. “There is no better place for government to witness the professionalism, creativity and all round quality of the UK events industry.”

 International Confex will take place 6-8^th March 2012 with John Penrose MP scheduled to attend on the afternoon of the 6^th March.