UK inquiry urges stronger government backing for business events

The UK’s business events sector has received renewed attention from policymakers following the conclusion of a parliamentary inquiry into major events, with industry leaders welcoming recommendations aimed at strengthening government support and recognition for the industry.

The Events Industry Alliance (EIA) has endorsed the findings of the Culture, Media and Sport Committee, which examined how major events are developed, funded and leveraged in the UK. The committee’s report includes a series of proposals designed to enhance the role that business events play in economic growth, international trade and regional development.

Background and industry context

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The inquiry into major events, chaired by Dame Caroline Dinenage, was launched in July 2025 to review how effectively the UK attracts, delivers and capitalises on large-scale events. While the remit covered a broad spectrum of sporting, cultural and business gatherings, the business events segment – including exhibitions, trade shows and conferences – was a specific focus for industry bodies seeking greater policy engagement.

Business events are widely recognised within the sector as a catalyst for investment, innovation and export, connecting buyers and suppliers across multiple industries. However, event organisers and venues have long argued that the sector has not received the same level of strategic priority as other parts of the visitor economy, despite its contribution to jobs, regional regeneration and international competitiveness.

The EIA, which represents a broad cross-section of organisers, venues and suppliers, submitted evidence to the committee outlining the sector’s value and calling for a more coherent approach to government support. Its response emphasised issues such as international competitiveness, skills and workforce challenges, and the need for clearer policy responsibility within government.

Key developments and recommendations

In its report, the Culture, Media and Sport Committee put forward several recommendations that align with priorities previously raised by business events stakeholders. While the full detail of the proposals spans the wider major events ecosystem, a number of points directly relate to trade and business events:

Clearer government leadership on events: The committee called for more defined responsibility within central government for major events, including business events, to improve coordination, accountability and long-term planning.
Stronger recognition of economic impact: The report highlighted the wider economic and trade benefits generated by business events and recommended that this impact be more explicitly factored into government decision-making and support mechanisms.
Enhanced support for international competitiveness: The committee signalled the importance of ensuring the UK remains an attractive destination for international organisers and exhibitors, pointing to the role that targeted funding, promotion and streamlined processes can play.
Joined-up approach across departments: Recognising that business events intersect with tourism, trade, culture and education, the report urged a more integrated, cross-departmental strategy.

The EIA welcomed the committee’s acknowledgement of the business events sector as a strategic asset and its call for more cohesive policy oversight. The alliance has previously stressed that fragmented responsibility across multiple departments can hinder long-term planning and investment for organisers and venues.

Industry impact and implications

For event organisers, venues and suppliers, the committee’s findings provide a potential platform for more structured engagement with policymakers. If acted upon, the recommendations could help address long-standing concerns around visibility, data, and support mechanisms for business events.

Stronger recognition of the sector’s economic contribution could influence how future funding programmes, trade initiatives and regional development strategies are shaped. This includes the possibility of more targeted support for attracting and retaining major exhibitions and conferences, as well as better integration of events-led activity into broader industrial and trade policy.

The focus on clearer government leadership around events is also significant for longer-term planning. Many organisers operate on multi-year cycles, particularly for large international shows, and have highlighted the need for policy stability and clarity on issues such as infrastructure, skills and international market access.

For cities and regions, a more coordinated national approach could support efforts to use business events as a lever for inward investment and sector-specific growth. Local authorities and destination management organisations may benefit from stronger national frameworks that recognise events as part of economic strategy, rather than solely as tourism activity.

Why this matters for event professionals and technology providers

For event professionals, including those delivering hybrid and technology-enabled experiences, the committee’s report reinforces the position of business events as a core element of the UK’s economic infrastructure rather than a discretionary add-on. This recognition can underpin investment in digital platforms, data capabilities and content-led formats that extend the life and impact of events.

Technology providers stand to gain from a policy environment that encourages innovation in how events are staged and monetised. If government support translates into more international bids, larger-scale shows, or sector-focused summits, demand for registration systems, event apps, virtual platforms, data analytics tools and audience engagement technologies is likely to increase.

A more joined-up government approach could also facilitate standard-setting and best practice in areas such as sustainability data, accessibility, cybersecurity and measurement of economic impact. These are all domains where technology solutions are central, from carbon tracking and digital wayfinding to secure hybrid participation and real-time analytics for exhibitors and sponsors.

Additionally, enhanced recognition of business events may help address skills and workforce issues that affect both operational and technical delivery. As the sector competes for digital talent, alignment with wider skills initiatives could support training pathways connected to event technology, production and data roles.

Conclusion

The Culture, Media and Sport Committee’s major events inquiry marks a notable moment for the UK’s business events ecosystem, placing exhibitions, trade shows and conferences more firmly on the policy agenda. By welcoming the report, the Events Industry Alliance has signalled that its recommendations reflect many of the sector’s core asks around recognition, leadership and strategic support.

The next phase will depend on how government departments respond and whether the committee’s proposals are translated into concrete policy measures. For organisers, venues and technology providers, the report offers both an opportunity and a roadmap for deeper engagement with policymakers, with the potential to shape how the UK competes for and delivers major business events in the years ahead.