By Access All Areas - The Association of Independent Festivals (AIF) has set up an All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) for independent festivals. The APPG will be chaired by Giles Watling, the Conservative MP for Clacton, who has been a longtime member of the cross-party Culture, Media and Sport Committee.

UKEVENTS, the umbrella organisation for the events industry, has confirmed the Nationwide Caterers Association (NCASS) as its newest partner.

NCASS is the only membership organisation in the UK to support independent food and drink businesses and has been supporting its members to be safe, legal, and profitable for over 30 years. Its key priorities include raising the profile of its members among the wider events industry, raising safety standards, and to educate on LPG safety.

Apprenticeships are a vital tool for enhancing the availability of talent in the events industry, but Richard Waddington, Lead, Event Apprenticeships, argues that perceptions must change and that industry leaders should be more active in encouraging them.

The Tourism Alliance has confirmed that Susan Tanner, CEO of the National Outdoor Events Association and UKEVENTS Vice Chair, has joined its 2023/24 board as the UKEVENTS representative.

The UK’s Film and TV industry is valued by the UK Government, and UKEVENTS Chair, Chris Skeith, suggests the country could benefit if similar incentives were offered to the events sector.