Last Friday a guest speaker Alistair Turner, PR Director for Britain for Events Campaign, for BVEP – Britain Visits and Events Partnership came to give a talk to our Event Management students.

Dr Mary Beth Gouthro, a Senior Lecturer In Events Management said:  “we are very pleased to have Alistair Turner join us for a guest lecture on the heels of the recent release of the DCMS Business Visits and Events Strategy.”  This strategy is the first of its kind in that there hasn’t been an overarching strategic approach to business events before, so as to develop domestic and  international market opportunities.  In addition, the strategy also acknowledges future governance, infrastructure and funding, visas and ‘welcome from Britain’ to international visitors, marketing and strategic partnerships.  The strategy is also meant to play a key role in 2020 Export Drive, ie in optimising unique world events to boost UK exports.

One of the key features of the strategy (and a first) is the creation of a Business Visits & Events Board, made up of events industry representatives, government departments and agencies, under the auspices of the GREAT programme. The new board is tasked with identifying business opportunities and to win more events for Britain, and represents new resources for the events industry.

Alistair plays a key role in its promoting its execution go forward and reflects progressive steps eg policy implications and further legitimisation of the events sector in UK.

Alistair shared a great example for Britain bidding to host the Olympics 2012. If you haven’t seen the video yet you can view it here: https://vimeo.com/37241441