David Tremmil, vice chair of beam and UKEVENTS, spills the beans on his dual role - and reveals why government advocacy is so vital for the sector today on an interview with M&IT (first published here).
Q: David, can you start by telling us about your dual role and your advocacy efforts for the events sector?
Absolutely. I’m proud to serve as vice chair of beam and also vice chair for UKEVENTS, where I lead on advocacy and government relations. Having these two roles allows me to act as a strategic bridge between the needs of our sector and government policy. Right now, advocacy within government is more critical than ever to ensure that the business events sector is properly recognised, and supported so that it can thrive as a key part of the wider UK economy.
Q: Why is government advocacy so vital for the events sector today?
The meetings and events industry is a powerhouse, contributing over £61 billion to the UK economy. Yet historically, it’s been underrepresented in national policymaking. Advocacy ensures our voice is heard at the highest levels, particularly when it comes to policies that affect jobs, tourism, infrastructure, skills development, sustainability, and the transition to net zero.
Strong, consistent engagement with government leads to better outcomes, whether that's funding support, visa reforms, or building a future-ready workforce. Having a unified voice, something beam champions strongly, is essential to shaping a resilient, future-focused industry.
Q: Beam has been very active in this space recently. Can you highlight some of the initiatives and events you’ve been involved with?
It’s been a busy and exciting few months for advocacy, with beam taking a leading role. In early February, we supported the UKEVENTS Meet Parliamentarians session, a brilliant chance for MPs to hear firsthand about the value of our sector, and just days later, we hosted MPs at our beam Gala Dinner at The Grand Hotel, Birmingham.
Since then, we’ve kept the momentum going. I joined a working group at DCMS with Karl Robson, we spoke on a panel at International Confex alongside industry leaders, and, in March, my appointment as vice chair for advocacy and government relations at UKEVENTS was announced, strengthening the bridge between beam and wider sector advocacy.
March also saw key political meetings: at Portcullis House with Stuart Andrew MP and Saqib Bhatti MP, a dinner with James Cleverly MP, and meetings with MPs Rachel Taylor and Mike Wood. We also attended the inaugural APPG for Events members-only dinner, further deepening our engagement with Parliament.
In April, over 20 senior beam members and directors attended the Business of Events Global Policy Forum, where we collaborated with policymakers, civil servants, and sector leaders to drive forward vital conversations. Moving into May, beam chair Louisa Watson joined the APPG’s first parliamentary dinner of the new parliament at the House of Commons, bringing together key figures from across the UK events sector and senior political stakeholders.
Looking ahead, our State of the Nation event is now a fixed feature of the beam calendar, a strategic moment to connect senior members with APPG representatives. Our next event will take place at the Palace of Westminster this month, with lunch and drinks on the terrace, a fantastic opportunity to build further influence.
Throughout all this, beam has remained closely aligned with the Business of Events initiative. It’s an exciting time for advocacy, and beam is right at the centre of it.
Q: For those who might not know, what exactly is the APPG for Events, and what is beam’s involvement?
APPGs, All-Party Parliamentary Groups, are informal groups where MPs and peers from across political parties come together to focus on shared interests, in this case, the events sector. While they aren’t official committees, they play an important role in influencing government thinking.
The APPG for Events currently includes 33 members, including cross-party parliamentarians and seven corporate members, which shows growing political interest and recognition of our sector’s value. Beam was the first trade association to formally become part of the APPG. That gives our members a direct voice at the table and a real opportunity to help shape the future policy agenda for events.
Q: How can members and the wider industry help strengthen support for the APPG for Events?
Growing the APPG's influence is all about building more parliamentary support. One of the most effective ways to do that is for individuals to speak directly to their own MP about the value and impact of the events sector. These personal conversations can really spark genuine interest and result in increased engagement.
To make this easier, beam has produced a template letter that members can send to their MPs, and very soon we’ll be adding a simple “how-to” guide to help guide conversations. The more MPs we have actively involved, the stronger and louder our collective voice will be.
Q: Finally, what would you say to members who might be wondering whether their individual efforts really make a difference?
I would say absolutely, they do. Every conversation, every letter, every meeting with an MP helps. It’s about building a movement over time. It’s easy to feel that policy change is slow, but what we’re seeing now, with more MPs joining the APPG, and with some of the recent initiatives, is that advocacy works.
Beam is here to support and guide our members in these efforts. Together, we have a real opportunity to secure the recognition and support our incredible sector deserves.
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