What does Whitehall shake-up mean for the exhibitions industry?

The creation of four new government departments will affect the way the events industry is represented in government.

With energy no longer linked to the business department, the events industry is hopeful more focus can be placed on business and trade.

Department for International Trade has been axed with a reformed business department now responsible for UK trade.

Rishi Sunak announced the creation of the new Department for Business and Trade with the prime minister appointing Kemi Badenoch as its secretary of state.

The combined Department for Business and Trade will “support growth by backing British businesses at home and abroad, promoting investment and championing free trade” Downing Street said.

“The changes will ensure the right skills and teams are focussed on the Prime Minister’s five promises: to halve inflation, grow the economy, reduce debt, cut waiting lists and stop the boats,” the statement added.

Sunak’s shake-up is intended to spur the economy with insiders hopeful of the benefits of the trade portfolio more closely linked to government policy on business and industrial strategy.

The business events industry will have a minister, Stuart Andrew, who has cross departmental responsibility between the Department of Culture, Media and Sport and the Department of Business and Trade.

Behind the scenes, many said the Groundhog Day effect made little difference as civil servants held the key to getting the value of business events recognised in Government.

Sunak and Badenoch last year said they wanted to place less emphasis on quickly signing trade deals and more emphasis on boosting exports and inward foreign direct investment.

Chris Skeith, CEO of the Association of Events Organisers said: “We’ve long said we are much more akin to business, and have built strong relationships with BEIS as well as the sectors home department of DCMS.

“Key to future success is to have someone responsible for events across every single government department, as the industry cuts across every sector, every department and every region. That saide this presents an opportunity for the sector to be placed in a department with a pure ‘business and trade’ remit, and any change brings opportunity as each new or changing department settles on their priorities.”

“We will continue to engage whenever and wherever we can, with the government, the opposition, members of both Houses, and government officials, we have such a compelling story of sustainable and regional growth and trade.”

The Department for Culture Media and Sport which previously held responsibility for the events industry, now loses its ‘digital remit’

AEV director Rachel Parker said: “While some final roles and responsibilities are yet to be confirmed, we welcome the latest government reshuffle as the business events industry will have a minister, Stuart Andrew, who has cross departmental responsibility between the Department of Culture, Media and Sport and the Department of Business and Trade. We look forward to meeting with the minister later this month.

“As part of our advocacy programme over the last year, we have been working more closely at both a ministerial and official level with the now reformed DCMS and BEIS departments, and recently had the former Minister for Industry speak at the launch of the EIA manifesto in Parliament.

“We look forward to welcoming the new Secretary of State, Lucy Frazer to the streamlined Department of Culture, Media, and Sport.”

South East Cambridgeshire MP Lucy Frazer becomes the 13th culture secretary in as many years –few showed much surprise as the DCMS holds the record as the government department to have the highest turnover of ministers.

Essa director Andrew Harrison told EN: “After the past three years we’ve become accustomed to the revolving door of ministerial appointments, especially so within the DCMS. Of course it impacts what we do, but it’s somewhat minimal. Our own experience is that those civil servants who work within government groups stays consistent, advisors stay consistent, we maintain our position in ministerial dairies who in turn will be briefed by those advisors. EIA’s (ESSA, AEV, AEO) government messaging and manifesto is very clear regarding how our industry continues to support the countries recovery and aid future growth. That’s key to navigating any change at government level or indeed future governments.”

Frazer vowed to focus on building the economy through her department saying describing her remit as covering “the most exciting and fastest growing parts of the UK economy.”

Source: Exhibition News