Shropshire Chamber of Commerce has joined the call to provide urgent support for the events industry.

It is backing the sector’s plea for immediate Government intervention, and appealing to local businesses to join the #WeMakeEvents campaign which is gathering momentum on social media.

Policy officer, Fergus Hamilton-Collard, said the Coronavirus pandemic had decimated an industry which employs around 600,000 people in the UK and which contributes over £70 billion to the economy each year.

“With an uncertain future ahead, and the Prime Minister suggesting that many restrictions may stay in place for the next six months, it is vital that the Chamber network supports a campaign to help save this vital sector.”

Fergus said Shropshire Chamber was supporting the call from neighbouring chambers for a raft of support actions, including:

  • An urgent review into the decision to postpone reopening the sector and whether it can operate safely under guidance approved by the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) and Public Health England, based on industry pilots
  • Ongoing full access to the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme for businesses unable to operate due to Government Covid-19 policy, matched by enhanced support for the self-employed working in the sector
  • Grant and financial support catering for both large institutions (such as major conference centres, arenas, and stadia) and supply chain SMEs that can demonstrate significant financial distress
  • Tax reliefs across business rates, employment costs and other key costs
  • Government-backed insurance schemes giving the sector (and their customers and suppliers) the confidence to plan effectively for reopening in a changeable environment
  • A Government-endorsed, proven testing/track and trace programme that allows venues to offer enhanced safety and speed up their reopening
  • A clear road map on when and how the major events sector will reopen and steps to ensure the UK’s relevance on the global stage as a centre for business, cultural and sporting events is not diminished by this pandemic

“It is critical that Government hears the calls coming from the Chamber network and the business community today, because without immediate intervention the events industry may struggle to survive at all,” said Fergus.

To find out more about the campaign, see www.wemakeevents.com