Opinion
18
March 2019
What’s the deal with Brexit?
Richard Catton, PR and media manager at Harrogate Convention Centre,
looks at how Brexit may impact the association events sector
ith the twists and turns
of Brexit playing out on a
seemingly minute-by-minute
basis, it can be difficult to
separate the moments of clarity from the
clamour.
Warnings from economists, scientists
and industry leaders on the perils of a
disorderly Brexit are routinely dismissed as
‘scaremongering’ by Eurosceptics or served
up by EU supporters as proof of a looming
cliff-edge.
It’s hard to see how Brexit won’t bring
big changes to business and that will
inevitably include the UK’s event industry
and its links to Europe. With March 29th
now within touching distance, we spoke
to three players in very different sectors of
the event industry, to get their take on the
biggest issue of our generation.
Naz Kabir, director of event production
company Culture Event Creative, stages
large public indoor and outdoor shows,
often importing attractions from around
the world said: “At Culture Event
Creative we run a service-based business
where we produce, manage and tour all
types of large scale indoor and outdoor
events, exhibitions and festivals for family
audiences. Brexit is not worrying me too
much and it will not affect my business as
much as those that make physical products
and sell overseas within the EU.
“Two areas where I feel Brexit will
affect me are in logistics, transporting my
exhibitions from the UK to EU cities and
financially in terms of business banking. I
currently produce and tour events globally
as well as across Europe. So in terms of
logistics, I will no doubt be hit by higher
export taxes and transport costs to move
exhibitions from the UK to other major
EU cities and will have to consider these
extra costs in my event budgets.
“Financially, Brexit will more than likely
mean I will have to open a business account
in the EU for any work I do in Europe
in order to make it easier for buying and
paying for goods, staffing and services when
touring my events across EU cities. All my
events are ticketed so I will focus on using
local ticketing agencies in each country I
tour to, rather than trying to run ticketing
centrally from London. All ticketing
income for my events can then easily be
paid into my EU business bank account.
“The events industry is constantly
growing both in the UK and across Europe
as unique concepts, new content and
exciting formats tempt families to keep
spending on a fun experience and day out.
For the events industry, Brexit in itself
is not the biggest barrier to success, it is
creativity and new unique concepts that
will keep the industry growing.”
Dean Lindsay is a regional MD at
catering and hospitality business CH&CO.
The company holds a Royal Warrant for
its work with Buckingham Palace said:
“It’s fair to say that when it comes to
Brexit, the hospitality industry, like the
rest of the country, is in a position of
uncertainty. The potential challenges ahead
are well documented, from food prices
and availability to recruitment and labour
shortages. But until we know what the final
deal (or lack of it) looks like, we must plan
for the unplannable.
“Hospitality businesses are adept at rising
to challenges. External factors like the
weather, national occasions, sporting events
and political and economic uncertainty can
have a significant impact on demand. We
must be prepared for all eventualities so our
business is designed to flex and scale, and
we’re good at adapting.
“We have robust systems in place to
ensure there’s always enough food available
and team members to serve it with a smile
– and this puts us in good stead for Brexit.
So, whatever 29 March brings, we’ll use
our expertise and agility to respond as the
market demands and ensure that our clients
and customers continue to get the excellent
food and service they expect. That’s one
certainty in a not so certain world!”
Simon Kent is former director of
Harrogate Convention Centre, a multi-
purpose event centre in North Yorkshire,
which welcomd 300,000 visitors a year,
added: “As an industry we have always had
to be very adaptable. The events industry
doesn’t stand still. Brexit is going to
catalyse us to be responsive again just like
we had to in 2008 during the credit crunch.
“I think there will be negative impacts
but there will also be a flipside. For example
while we may see fewer European events
coming to us, we will also see UK events,
which have traditionally gone abroad, such
as corporate staff engagement or sales
events, staying in this country.
“The industry also survived the digital
boom. There were predictions that the
internet and advances in communications
technology could mean the end of face-to-
face meetings, with people having virtual
conferences on line.
“There’s no doubt that the internet has
had an impact but it’s been positive for the
industry. Live events, for example seminars
or speeches, can now reach an on-line
audience as they take place in an event
venue.”