The following ar.cle outlines how the UK event Sector could build back be:er and has been included inConference News November which was delivered to the homes of every UK MP.
What is the solu,on to the economic, environmental, equality and health crises being faced: The UK EventSector
There is an opportunity for the UK event sector to be a world leading example of #buildbackbe=er.
At COP26 the UK Prime Minister could announce“ In the UK we are proud to be able to demonstrate how a sector destroyed by COVID 19 has been rebuilt
and how the UK event sector will con,nue to be a world leader not only in the delivery of events but inthe world’s progress towards the Paris Climate Change Agreement and the United Na,ons Sustainable
Development Goals.’
As this arFcle is starFng with a made up quote from a Fme in the future it makes sense to address thequesFon of how realisFc this future is and based on ongoing conversaFons, exisFng trials and innovaFve
collaboraFons it is clear that with 4 steps to acFon a new reality could be created for the UK event sector
and the UK governments deliver of world leadership.
Step 1: Demonstrate Leadership
In the lead up to COP 26 business sectors around the world are announcing carbon reducFon targets. IncollaboraFon with UNFCCC (the UN Climate Change Secretariat) and in line with acFon being taken byfashion and sport sectors the UK event sector could create a framework and trial UNFCCC measurement
systems.
By COP 26 the UK government could invite other countries to bring their event sectors into this framework.
The opportunity for leadership is clear as stated by Miguel Naranjo, Programme Oﬃcer at the UNFCCC
secretariat,“We are witnessing many industry sectors mobilizing to transform their narra,ve and ac,ons.. Publicpressure for ac,on is growing though. Those that do not start implemen,ng serious ac,on right now willbe leQ behind. We encourage the events industry to use all opportuni,es to look at sustainability, skills
and jobs under the same strategy for posi,ve change, and to act with utmost urgency.”
Step 2; Create a new narra,ve for the sector
United NaFons Sustainable Development Goal 16 has a target and indicator for enabling inclusive andparFcipatory decision making. In collaboraFon with UN SDG AcFon and in line with exisFng UN AcceleraFon
AcFon frameworks the UK event sector could communicate their value as being the enablers for SDG 16 andcreate new business opportuniFes with the world’s business and governments who have commi=ed to theSustainable Development Goals.
For example Unicef UK are due to launch guidelines on the consideraFon of human and child rights whenplanning an event and the UK event sector could lead the world in sharing this best pracFce approach.
Step 3: Build Capacity
In March 2020, UK based not for proﬁt PosiFve Impact Events began an ‘upskilling programme’ whichreached over 1,200 global event professionals and was recognised by UN SDG AcFon Campaign. As part ofthis iniFaFve the BriFsh Embassy in Helsinki made it possible for toolkits to be shared and over 60 BriFsh
Embassy’s to receive capacity building on how to use ISO 20121, the ISO management system standard forevent sustainability inspired by the London Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Capacity building in this area would create exportable skills for the UK event sector and associated bodies,for example BriFsh Standards InsFtute who use standards to build capacity within industries around theworld.
“Human connec,on and collabora,on are at the heart of the work of Bri,sh Embassies around the world,
including in Helsinki. Sustainability is our priority and it is cri,cal that we build back beZer from theCovid-19 pandemic. This sustainable event management workstream provides a means by which event
professionals can connect, collaborate and communicate, while mee,ng some of the urgent
environmental challenges we face.”
Mr. Tom Dodd, BriFsh Ambassador to Finland.
Step 4: Enable Innova,onThe market for new technologies to enable human connecFon, parFcipaFon and inclusion is signiﬁcant. The
potenFal advantage the UK sector could have is to develop these technologies within a #buildbackba=er
framework, in line with ISO 20121, a UNFCCC framework for events, Unicef UK guideline for theconsideraFon of human and child rights when planning an event and more.
This approach would beneﬁt sector’s beyond the event sector, for example the standard sector of which theUK is world leading.
Sustainability is part of BSI's purpose. We are the world’s ﬁrst na,onal standards body, and proud tosupport the events industry through best prac,ce standards. Inspired by the London 2012 Olympic andParalympic Games, BSI developed the ﬁrst sustainable event management system standard (ISO 20121)
which is part of a suite of standards that can build capacity and drive more sustainable
performance. BSI remains ready to help the industry ‘build back beZer’ from the pandemic throughgreater applica,on of standards.
David Fatscher, Head of Sector BriFsh Standards InsFtute
These four steps are already being acFoned under the leadership of UK based not for proﬁt PosiFve Impact
Events which has provided educaFon, engagement and collaboraFon to create a sustainable event industry
since 2005. There are already exisFng frameworks (for example ISO 20121 and the Unicef UK Guidelines forhuman and child rights) developed in the UK either already in use globally or with signiﬁcant potenFal. The
immediate and straigh^orward opportunity is to boost the amount of acFon. its impact and proﬁle the UK’s
leadership to the world.
These four steps have the potenFal to impact beyond the development of business for a world leading UK
event sector. For example enhancing the experFse of UK educaFon insFtuFons so the worlds students would
choose to study in the UK. For example highlighFng the experFse of the UK in standard making andcerFﬁcaFon so the world’s business choose BriFsh cerFﬁcaFon. For example supporFng the UK tech sector
to innovate based on a proven human need to enable inclusion and parFcipaFon in decision making.
With the insight of these four steps it is easy to understand how the made up quote this arFcle started withis an unmissable opportunity for the UK Government to support the event sector to enhance exisFng acFvity
and reclaim global leadership as a sector #builtbackbe=er.