Published by Neil ThompsonAhead of the Westminster Hall debate secured by Owen Thompson MP, the British Event Industry Coalition (BEIC) is reaching out to MP’s to for their support in an appeal to the Government to endorse the empowerment of event industry professionals as certified COVID Compliance Officers.
The BEIC is a newly formed coalition of event professionals operating in the private events sector of the Events industry; a self-regulated industry that has been hit hard by COVID as the Government balances the health of the nation with the economic long-term viability. The endorsement would enable invitation only private events (life-cycle and corporate events) of a significant number of guests to occur and create financial buoyancy within the private events industry sector.
“The BEIC is not seeking a financial stimulus package from Government. We are developing a framework for our members to work within, including formal BEIC kitemarks to help breath confidence back into our market. As it stands already, our members are already the eyes and ears of health and safety standards and we know what it takes to have COVID compliant safe events”. Says Lisa Kirsch, founder of The BEIC.
The BEIC is not suggesting a bail-out but a financial plan that will make planned social gatherings even safer and keep the events industry working, help reduce illegal gatherings, streamline the Government’s communications process and make regulations more easily enforceable.
With the Government’s endorsement and financial assistance, The BEIC is asking for:
• The Government to pass a law to enable qualified event planners, managers and organisers to become COVID Compliance Officers that have the authority to enforce COVID guidelines at preplanned, organised social gatherings and life-cycle celebration events.
• An additional layer of COVID guidelines and risk assessments that Event Planners can enforce in addition to the standard health & safety risks assessment that events industry professionals undertake before each and every event.
• Legal disclaimers and compliance documents to become standard between the Planner and the Client - underwritten by a legislative framework for local authorities to subsidise a COVID secure event management charge.
• The power to execute private events and terminate a function if the Client or their guests don’t comply.
“We would like to see organised COVID secure events to take place and to ensure unplanned and unsafe social gatherings are illegal. The public find the changing rules somewhat confusing and will try to stretch them where possible. As custodians and guardians of implemented regulations we will not allow this to occur.” continues Ms Kirsch.
As sole traders, small business and limited companies within the private events sector have seen their work stripped away for the last 6 months and annihilated for the next 6 months, The BEIC has already gathered significant momentum via a Facebook group and continues to attract members via a registration website www.thebeic.com
Ms Kirsch adds; “With clients cancelling functions, no current income, no income due, few enquiries for 2021 and overheads to meet, many of these businesses, small and large, will cease to exist. Event industry professionals in this sector are facing a financial crisis and with little or no financial aid from the Government, it faces collapse with businesses closing and individuals facing extreme debt, personal losses and potentially mental health issues”.
She continues; There is a strong need to retain active work among this sector. There is a human need for people to celebrate milestones in these challenging times and there are safety measures that can be implemented to legally manage compliance of such events in a COVID secure environment”.
