The UK's Event Industry Alliance (EIA), has launched a new cross-association working group called Project Confidence.

The EIA, which is a collective of the Association of Event Organisers (AEO), Association of Event Venues (AEV) and the Event Services Supplier Association (ESSA), says the purpose of the group is to “formulate and implement consistent, timely and relevant communications across the three sides of the events industry”. Referring to event organisers, venues and suppliers, its aim is to inform and engage stakeholders on the work being done to facilitate the safe resurgence of events, at the earliest opportunity.

The group, co-chaired by Louise Day, assistant director of marketing and communications at Manchester Central and Kate Simpson, marketing and communications director at the Business Design Centre, brings together reputed marketers within AEO, AEV and ESSA membership.

On the announcement, Day noted the importance of coming together to create a unified voice for our industry. She said, “[A voice] that not only amplifies the significance of events and the value they create but one that helps reassure our clients, partners and customers that we are working tirelessly to get events back in business.”

Simpson added that the associations had been hard at work lobbying government since the Covid-19 crisis tightened its grip on the world economy. She said, “The events industry has been working hard over the last few months, in both lobbying the government and planning how events could now look and safely operate. The aptly named Project Confidence is a key step in providing reassurance to all those who attend and participate in events, that we collectively as venues, organisers and suppliers, are doing everything we can to create safe spaces for people to meet again.”

The All Secure Standard, produced by the EIA, is currently with the Government awaiting final approval.