Published by Neil ThompsonNick de Bois, Chair of the VisitEngland Advisory Board is confirmed to join the panel of UK events industry leaders taking part in the high-level discussion at UKickstart, the nationwide live and virtual gathering of event professionals taking place on Tuesday 8 September.
Formerly the Chair of the UK Government’s Events Industry Board (EIB), Nick will be joining Tourism Minister Nigel Huddleston MP, Tracy Halliwell MBE (Director of Tourism, Conventions and Major Events at London and Partners) and Simon Hughes (Chairman of BVEP) to discuss the safe return of the UK events industry as it works towards reopening.
Nick de Bois said: “The UK events industry has shown incredible resilience during the COVID-19 pandemic, working extremely hard to ensure it is ready to welcome back visitors safely as soon as possible to the outstanding destinations, venues and experiences that make the UK a leading destination for events.
“UKickstart is an important catalyst in inspiring the UK events industry’s return to business as it works towards its October reopening date, uniting with one voice to safely restart this valuable industry and supporting the thousands of jobs that depend on it.”
The UK-wide event will include discussions, broadcast live from etc.venues County Hall, on government guidance ahead of the business events industry’s restart, the ongoing impact the COVID-19 pandemic has had on the industry and what the future holds for the sector.
To bring the industry together, for the first time since lockdown, attendees will be able to join the event in person in one of a number of venue hubs located across the UK. In accordance with current government guidance, each venue will allow a maximum of 30 socially distanced delegates to attend the event. UKickstart will also be streamed online to create a virtual experience for event professionals who cannot attend in person.
The free to attend event is supported by UK industry associations, spearheaded by etc.venues and supported by industry bodies including BVEP, HBAA, MIA, VisitBritain, ILEA, MPI, ABPCO, EMA, AEO, ESSA, EVCOM, AEV and the London Convention Bureau.
Adam Simpson, Director of Marketing of etc.venues, and leader of UKickstart said: “We’re delighted that Nick is able to join the panel. Confidence levels for events and meetings are on an upward climb. We want to continue to inspire confidence and this was why we felt it was important to be the driving force for a united industry-wide effort by creating UKickstart Event 2020. We hope this event will demonstrate the power of face-to-face events and act as a catalyst to kick-start the events industry.”
UKickstart Event 2020 will take place on 8 September.
To register: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/ukickstart-event-2020-registration-114245310800
