Committee publication · Report · 6 July 2026 · HC 335

2nd Report - Business events

From: Culture, Media and Sport Committee

Government response deadline: 7 September 2026

Summary

The Culture, Media and Sport Committee reports on the UK business events sector, which generates £33.6 billion annually but lacks government strategy and coordination. Despite strong post-pandemic recovery, the sector is constrained by fragmented departmental responsibility, cuts to VisitBritain's business events team, rising costs, post-Brexit barriers, and weak ministerial engagement. The committee recommends a standalone national strategy, transfer of responsibility to the Department for Business and Trade, sustained funding, clearer ministerial commitment, and action on visa processes and transport connectivity.

Key findings

Business events generate £33.6 billion annually and support hundreds of thousands of jobs, yet lack coordinated government leadership, strategic direction, and sustained funding compared to competitor nations like Germany, Spain and Italy.
VisitBritain is reducing its business events team from nine staff to two and abolishing the Business Events Growth Program, described by the sector as 'short-sighted' and economically counterproductive.
UK competitiveness is declining: the UK ranked 113th out of 119 on the World Economic Forum cost competitive index for travel and tourism in 2024, undermined by cumulative pressures including VAT, Air Passenger Duty, ETA fees, and business rates.
Post-Brexit barriers—visa requirements, administrative complexity, and loss of mutual recognition for qualifications—are reinforcing perceptions of the UK as a difficult destination, with competitors exploiting these factors in bids.
Ministerial attendance at business events is crucial for success but frequently delayed and unsecured in timely fashion, limiting the sector's ability to attract major international events.

Recommendations

Develop and publish a standalone, long-term national business events strategy aligned with the industrial strategy, with clear government ambition and supported by a sector-led National Business Events Council.
Maintain funding for promoting UK-based business events abroad and reconsider VisitBritain's decision to reduce its business events team.
Transfer responsibility for business events from DCMS to the Department for Business and Trade and establish a cross-government structure with dedicated representation, clear strategy and sustained funding.
Establish clear expectations for ministerial engagement with the sector, including indicative targets for attendance at priority events, with published reporting on ministerial attendance.
Urgently review cumulative cost pressures on the sector (VAT, Air Passenger Duty, ETA, business rates) and accelerate regional transport connectivity investment.
Pursue a Mutual Recognition Agreement with the EU for business events to recognise UK qualifications.
Simplify visa processes for business events and international delegates, and publish clear annual guidance on visa routes.

Tone

Critical

Topics

business-eventstourism-policytrade-investmentpublic-financedepartmental-responsibility

Key actors

Dame Caroline Dinenage, Faye Dyer, Rachel Parker, Robert Wright, Department for Culture, Media and Sport, Department for Business and Trade, VisitBritain, Events Industry Alliance

Notable line

“… reports indicating that VisitBritain's business events team is being significantly scaled back.”

Key Quotes

“Ireland and Germany this year launched their 2030 roadmaps for business events. They have a very clear plan of where they are going, what level of engagement they want from government and public sector, what funding models they need. We do not have that currently.”
— Robert Wright · On the lack of coordinated government strategy

“It will take months and it will probably get a last minute, "Oh yes, we can come". But the damage is done, in a way, because the positive impact a Minister or even the Prime Minister confirming that they will attend a show is huge …”
— Rachel Parker · On ministerial attendance at Farnborough Air Show and impact on event success

“Whether it is ETA (Electronic Travel Authorisation), whether it is airport passenger duty, whether it is the rate of VAT on hotels and restaurants, whether it is what we are all about to experience, which is pretty horrific, with business rates, all of that adds up.”
— Faye Dyer · On cumulative cost pressures undermining competitiveness

“"our biggest challenge is that the government do not understand what we do".”
— Rachel Parker · On lack of government recognition of the business events sector

“… this short ‑ sighted decision by both DCMS and VisitBritain cannot be understated for our sector. As a result of this reduction, we are now the only major economy without a fully funded and resourced business events team …”
— The Business of Events and Events Industry Alliance · On VisitBritain's reduction of business events team from nine to two staff

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Source · parliament.uk record ↗