Scotland’s Event Industry Advisory Group has written directly to the First Minister to highlight the urgent need for greater clarity around a recovery route map from COVID-19 to allow the sector time to plan for the return of events.

In a letter from Peter Duthie, chair of the Event Industry Advisory Group, the group insisted that more information is vital in being able to forward plan for the restart of the sector given long lead-in times for events and upfront investment required, while acknowledging the challenges faced trying to predict an uncertain future in the coming months.

It also called for as far as possible a unified Four Nations approach across the UK nations, warning that Scotland’s events sector is already facing significant disadvantages compared to England, which has seen buoyant sales figures since the UK Government published indicative dates for the return of events. The group also highlighted a concern for the viability of continued sectoral funding support should Scotland lag behind the rest of the UK in a route map for return.

The group, which comprises 23 senior representatives from a broad cross section of the events & festivals sector in Scotland, has been continually highlighting the needs of the industry throughout the pandemic.

Through positive Government engagement it has advocated for and secured additional funding support for the sector as well as utilising the expertise and professionalism of the industry to guide Government and public health officials on a return to events. It is now hoped that this constructive engagement will herald a clear route map with the publication of the Government’s updated Strategic Framework for COVID-19 week beginning 15 March.

A summary of the requests contained with the letter to the First Minister include:

  • A clear roadmap for the lifting of restrictions to the point of the full return of events
  • Information sharing between government and the events industry with a longer outlook timeframe
  • More positive messaging around the return of events in Scotland
  • The pursuit of a Four Nations approach to recovery
  • Consistency in the adoption of World Health Organisation policies

The Event Industry Advisory Group fully appreciates the challenges faced by the Scottish Government in planning a way out of the pandemic and has consistently taken a proactive and constructive approach to our representations on behalf of the industry.

Whilst recognising that no certainty can be provided, an understanding of how the Government’s data driven approach to the lifting of restrictions will operate is crucial for forward planning and decision making in the sector. Compared to most industries, the events sector requires much longer lead times to resume activity given the extensive planning involved.

A consistent approach across the Four Nations is also required to ensure that events in Scotland are not disadvantaged. We hope to see more detail and clarity on this very soon, albeit we recognise that any roadmap would understandably have to feature significant caveats if the situation were to change.

Peter Duthie, Chair of the Event Industry Advisory Group

The date of the next meeting of the EIAG is on Wednesday 24 March. You can read further outputs from the group and representatives from the sector can raise any points for consideration by the group by emailing EIAG@eventscotland.org.