I was invited by the Events Industry Forum and James Heappey MP to attend the launch this afternoon, in the Churchill Room at the House of Commons, of the Forum’s report into the value of UK outdoor events to the economy.
Carried out by Bournemouth University, the research shows the contribution that such events make in terms of financial output, cultural value and direct employment.
The Report extrapolates the returns from 4,463 respondents to surmise there were 141.5 million visits to outdoor events in 2018, a gross value added (GVA) of £30.4bn to the economy and the provision of 589,000 full-time equivalent jobs.
The main findings of the study demonstrate the likely total spend of £39.5bn, both on-site and off-site, in the purchase of services and goods generated by such events.
The Report also divided events into five main categories: music, arts and culture, fairs and shows, recreation and corporate. With London demonstrating the highest number (25%) of music event attendances in the UK and 34% of corporate events.
My thanks to the Forum for an informative launch, where it was great to meet Steve Heap, Jim Winship, Fiona Stewart of Green Man Festival and Sir Gerald Howarth of Addveritas.
The full Report is available from the Forum’s website.
