AEO News

This year’s #EventWell20 campaign educates on the importance of a commitment to providing better support for employees and talent, and to making a positive change to workplace culture and mental health.

A combined group of members from the AEO, the AEV and ESSA, led by the associations, has today launched the All Secure Standard, a risk assessment based framework of Covid-19 secure industry best practice and guidance for business events and consumer shows which take place in meetings, conferencing and exhibition centres.

We are pleased to see that after months of constructive conversations with the government they have issued a ‘go date’ has been issued for the exhibitions industry, which plays a critical role for the UK economy, generating £11bn in economic activity and supporting 114,000 jobs.

British events businesses have warned 30,000 jobs are at risk in the sector as the government has yet to set a date at which trade shows, exhibitions and conferences will be permitted to restart.

• 30,000 direct jobs in exhibitions sector currently at risk
• Estimated £8bn loss to the UK economy if remaining exhibitions are cancelled in 2020, and 60% of supply chain companies will not reopen in October as furlough comes to an end
• Sector is able to deliver safe events using ‘controlled’ environments and can play a vital role in getting the UK economy moving again

The Event Industry Alliance (EIA) – the collective associations of AEO, AEV and ESSA, is pleased to introduce its latest cross association working group initiative – ‘Project Confidence’. 

The Business Visits & Events Partnership (BVEP) has today launched its latest report titled ‘The UK Events Report’, which provides an in-depth examination into the £70bn industry, providing jobs for 700,000 people and how it will deliver the Government’s Industrial Strategy, which was launched last year.

The AEO (Association of Event Organisers) has postponed the AEO Excellence Awards to the evening of the 4th December 2020.

The event, which was originally due to take place on the 12th June has been moved as a result of the coronavirus outbreak.

The Event Industry Alliance (AEO, AEV and ESSA) today released a collection of resources, documents, links, and advice for working remotely, available through the members’ sections of the respective association websites. 

In a letter to the Chancellor Rishi Sunak today, Chris Skeith (CEO, AEO), Rachel Parker (Director, AEV) and Andrew Harrison (Director, ESSA) have asked for a rescue plan to specifically support the exhibition industry and its supply chain.

Our CEO, Chris Skeith, has reported on the government's recent £330bn cash boost for businesses affected by COVID-19.

The Association of Event Organisers (AEO) is pleased to announce its partnership renewal with Event Supplier and Services Association (ESSA).

The partnership includes ESSA’s support on the AEO Conference, due to take place in September and the FaceTime Masterclasses.