Major events

Status / emerging findings

• No 'golden thread' currently links UK major events to a unified national vision despite 2022 Select Committee recommendations; sector consensus exists that better coordination is needed but without top-down imposition.
• Events sector lacks a single government contact point; organisers must navigate multiple departments separately, creating competitive disadvantage compared to other nations like Australia and Canada.
• Scotland's 20-year portfolio-based events strategy (three editions: 2008, 2015, 2024) is cited as best practice; UK strategy must complement rather than replace devolved strategies to avoid undermining local ecosystems.
• Employment Rights Bill poses significant cost pressures on major events relying on temporary and seasonal workers; London Marathon example: 150 permanent staff but 6,000+ direct staff for single event.
• Government committed to publishing comprehensive major events strategy within 12 months (from April 2026 session), but acknowledged persistent coordination gaps between departments; Home Office notably absent from cross-departmental roundtables.

Why it matters

The events sector is worth £68 billion to the UK economy, but fragmented government coordination and rising regulatory costs are deterring international organisers and limiting Britain's competitive position; a coherent strategy could unlock significant economic and cultural returns.

Tone arc

Started procedural and sector-focused (December 2025: industry challenges, legislative barriers), evolved toward strategic and comparative (January–March: lessons from Scotland's model, 'golden thread' concept), then turned critical of government capacity (April: Minister Peacock conceded fragmentation remains unresolved, DCMS questioned on departmental clout).

Key witnesses

Stephanie Peacock MP (Minister for Culture), Rebecca Edser (Head of Events, VisitScotland), Phil Batty OBE (Glasgow 2026), Ruth Hollis OBE (Spirit of 2012), Claire McColgan CBE (Liverpool City Council), Nick Bitel (Major Events Organisers Association), Jon Collins (LIVE), David Tremmil (UK Events)