Tag: event management apprenticeship

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New events apprenticeship website launches

The ongoing growth of the Event Management Apprenticeship programme marks a new milestone with the launch of its new web portal. At the same time a new name is applied to the programme, now known as Get into Events, and can be seen here www.getintoevents.org.uk.

Get in to events logo

This hub of information will be further developed in the coming months, providing a central resource of information for employers, apprentices, and industry stakeholders.

The launch of the website also marks the establishment of an industry Community Interest Company that will own and develop the apprenticeship programme in partnership with industry. Sarah Wright, Director of the company and a founder of the Event Management Apprenticeship Programme said “we have massive ambition for the development of this apprenticeship programme, setting a new training route for our industry, and providing access to a new pipeline of industry talent”.

Get into events - Home Page image

Currently over 80 apprentices are employed and enrolled in the Government’s Trailblazer Event Assistant Apprentice Standard. Mark Riches, Chair of the Event Management Apprenticeship Programme said “We have achieved our first goal of having more than 50 event management apprentices within the first 18-months of launching the scheme, but we want more than 200 within the first three years. Additionally we need more industry involved in shaping this programme, particularly as we develop the higher apprenticeship standards”. The current standard is a Level 3 apprenticeship, but the scheme’s ambition is to develop levels through to 6 and 7, which are equivalent to foundation degrees (full bachelor’s and master’s).

The new industry body that launches this week is a community interest company, designated as a not for profit, and will hold its first meeting at the InterContinental Hotel on Park Lane on Thursday 8th November. The meeting is open to all industry stakeholders and invitations to become Board Members are on the Get into Events website.  Simon Hughes, Vice Chair of industry body BVEP, is a founding Director of the new body and says “there is a lot of interest by industry in developing the apprentice training route, hence establishing this independent company to own this scheme and drive it’s growth. Now is the opportunity for industry to become involved and help shape this programme, either by attending our meetings, or by joining the Board.”

For further information please contact:

  • Mark Riches, Chair, Event Management Apprenticeship Board: mark.riches@firstagency.com and 07976 269 210
  • Sarah Wright, Employer Engagement Director, Event Management Apprenticeship Board: EMAP@wright-hq.com and 07921 865 534
  • Simon Hughes, Stakeholder and Sponsorship Director , Event Management Apprenticeship Board: simon@mchassociates.com and 07730 064 222

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Future proofing the UK Events Industry, together

Thoughts from the Business of Events Senior Leadership Forum on the UK Events Industry

The forum took place on Friday 26 October at the QEII Centre in Westminster and a wide variety of attendees from different sectors of the conference, meeting and events industry attended. The objective was to discuss challenges and opportunities, as well as their relationship with government to future proof the UK events industry.

James Heappey MP being interviewed on stage

The morning started with an interview with James Heappey MP, chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group for the Events Industry, who talked about using events to build communities. He brought up the idea of raising funds for the UK’s tourism industry with a bed tax on hotel stays. This was a controversial initiative amongst the attendees on the same table as me, because the UK’s air passenger duty is already higher than other European countries and an additional tax might be a disincentive to bringing an event to the UK.

Panel discussion at the Business of Events

A panel presentation followed with the Heads of Visit Scotland, Visit Wales, Tourism Northern Ireland, London & Partners, and Visit Britain. They outlined the challenges and achievements that their organisations have faced over the last 12 months. The value of events to the UK’s economy is thought to be £33bn and the country has experienced 8 years of increasing tourism visits, since the 2012 Olympics in London. It is 3rd in the world in attracting association events and one of the objectives is to make the UK the 1st country of choice for associations.

The Event Management Apprenticeship Programme

Sarah Wright, chair of the Events Industry Board Talent Taskforce explained the Event Management Apprenticeship Programme, which has set up 85 apprenticeships and will expand the programme further. She also announced the results of the EIB Talent Taskforce, which surveyed 265 people representing c34,000 employees:

  • 61% of respondents identified a skills shortage
  • 54% reported vacancies, 40% of which in mid-level roles
  • The skills gaps are in sales and business development; project management; creative (suppliers); technical (venues); management and leadership (agencies); client handling (venues and agencies)
  • 6% of employees are offered no training
  • 23% of the workforce is classified as freelance or temporary

Future fit working lunch

This session was an opportunity to discuss topics that government could help with to develop the events industry. Issuing of Chinese visas is slower in the UK than Europe and only gives the visitor access to the UK, but a European visa gives access to all Schengen countries. The speed of issuing a visa to a Chinese citizen is under review, but the UK only access means that the visitor will stay longer in the UK and therefore spend more here. However, a Schengen visa encourages the visitor to move around more easily and encourages a ‘whistle-stop visit’ to each country.

Training and development was seen as key, with discussion around an industry-wide qualification that could be achieved whilst working. 64% of entry level employees move to a new job within two years, which is not very different from other industries. They often stay within the industry, but it does cause a high staff turnover at lower levels.

The day was rounded off by Kerrin MacPhee explaining her key objectives for Visit Britain; and Future focus – what happens next from Simon Hughes, Vice Chair BVEP.

A couple of things to think about

All attendees lined up according to years worked in the events industry

During the day we were asked to line up around the room in order of the years that we had worked in the events industry. The amount of knowledge in the room came to a total of 3,788 years, nine months and five days. With this amount of experience, we must be able to ensure that the events industry has a bright future?

Attendance at events is a problem across the board. There were 140 registered attendees, but only around 100 were there on the day, so getting people who’ve committed to actually turn up happens to us all!

Photo credits Ben Lister Photography