Business + Brand Experiences
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Sector at a Glance
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Contributes circa £18.3bn to the UK economy.
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A broad range of event types : conferences, brand activations, product launches, award ceremonies, AGMs, incentives, team building events.
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Deliver a range of audience experiences : research sharing, knowledge transfer, professional development, relationship building, brand immersion.
Sector Overview

These live events are used to promote and support commercial enterprises and are organised by corporate companies, consumer brands, trade and professional bodies. These are a key contributor to the global leadership of the UK events industry including significant export value and attracting in-bound business visitors, delivering Business to Business and Business to Consumer experiences.

 Event companies, creative and brand experience agencies, technical production companies, logistics and destination management companies, freelance producers and co-ordinators, set design and build companies, indoor and outdoor venues, caterers, decor suppliers, infrastructure suppliers, temporary structure suppliers, stewarding, health and safety services are some of the key event industry suppliers working together to deliver these live events.

Value to the economy – pre Covid mean estimates put the contribution to the UK economy of this sector at circa £18.3bn pre-pandemic – The Power of Events aims to update and identify a more current value in conjunction with its Research engagement app and sector partners, leveraging its unique cross sector reach. They include a diverse range of genres including attendance by business audiences to sales, training, educational, networking and strategy conferences, award ceremonies, AGMs, incentives and teambuilding events. Both business and consumer audiences also attend product launches, roadshows and experiential brand experiences. These events deliver a range of content and desired outputs for the audience, including research sharing, knowledge transfer, professional development, relationship building, brand immersion and product/services showcases – ultimately fostering trade, relationships and business growth.

Sector News
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The events industry has an entry-level contradiction
The events industry talks constantly about talent shortages. But there’s an uncomfortable contradiction sitting underneath many of those conversations: businesses want experienced junior talent, despite being increasingly reluctant to create the opportunities that develop that talent. Across the industry, employers continue to say they struggle to find candidates with the right skills, operational understanding and commercial awareness. Yet at the same time, many entry-level roles now ask for previous event experience even though candidates haven’t had a chance to properly enter the sector.
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Businesses could gain £3,000 for employing young people
The UK government has launched the new Youth Jobs Grant to incentivise businesses to take on young people who are currently out of work, with a view to reducing the large number of those not in employment, education or training (NEET).
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Martin Rhodes MP to make ‘persistent and consistent’ case for events
Martin Rhodes MP, chair of The All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) for Events says he will work ‘persistently and consistently’ to ensure events gain recognition and support from government despite recent funding cuts at VisitBritain and London & Partners threatening international visibility. Speaking at The Meetings Show 2026, a month after news broke that VisitBritain’s grant-in-aid funding was being reduced by 41 per cent, the Labour MP for Glasgow, pledged to ensure the UK’s meetings and events sector continued to gain the attention it deserves.
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MESA brings their members together for their fifth year at The Meetings Show 2026
The Meetings & Events Support Association and their members will be exhibiting for the fifth time at this year’s The Meetings Show.
Business + Brand Experiences Sector Industry Events
July 26
7-9
AEME Forum 2026
The #AEME2026 overarching theme is ‘Events for a Changing World: Responsibility, Equity, and Impact’ which will explore events as sites of responsibility and contestation, as well as spaces for imagination and meaningful impact. In particular, the Forum welcomes work that critically engages with events education, its pedagogies, curricula, institutional contexts, and partnerships as a key lever for shaping ethical practice, inclusive futures, and socially responsive event professionals in an uncertain world.
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July 26
16-17
beam Annual Forum 2026
The beam Annual Forum is more than just a date in the industry calendar; it is the ultimate expression of the power of our community. In an industry built on relationships, this event serves as a vital touchpoint where the brightest minds in business events, hospitality, and travel come together to share expertise and drive the sector forward. Whether you are looking for high-impact keynotes, candid peer-to-peer discussions, or the chance to recharge with industry friends, the Forum offers a unique environment where the big picture meets practical, actionable insights. By attending, you aren’t just joining an event—you are contributing to a collective voice that makes our industry stronger, more resilient, and more connected.
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September 26
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AEO CONFERENCE 2026
The Association of Event Organisers (AEO) is pleased to bring you the annual AEO Conference. This event brings together key players within the events industry, offering networking, insight and motivation. With an outstanding speaker line-up delivering inspirational, dynamic and thought-provoking content, the AEO Conference 2026 is fantastic platform from which to debate, learn and share ideas with your peers, which can help shape your organisation and the industry.
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