Committee created to support Scotland’s £1bn-a-year events programme

A committee has been created to ensure a safe return to Scotland’s “world-class” event programme – which it said boosts the nation’s economy by £1.1 billion a year.
The new group cites events such as the Royal Highland Show. Picture: contributed.The new group cites events such as the Royal Highland Show. Picture: contributed.
The new group cites events such as the Royal Highland Show. Picture: contributed.

The Scotland Event Producers Independent Committee (Epic) has been established by a group of experts to share knowledge and information during the lockdown and to develop ways for the events industry to help each other and the wider community.

The aim is to ensure a future for the businesses and guaranteeing that high-quality, iconic events continue to thrive across the country.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

It says Scotland is home to a “highly concentrated” number of event-organisers, promoters, contractors and suppliers – who work on thousands of events in Scotland throughout the year locally, nationally as well as internationally and on some of the nation’s most iconic celebrations.

Read More
'Tidal wave' of closures and redundancies expected in hospitality sector if soci...

These events also underpin the hospitality and transport industries, employing thousands of people to deliver them, it added. The group said the closure of venues and cancellations of events has resulted in a huge financial loss for these businesses, which affects employees, freelancers and contractors. Those behind the group “saw an opportunity to help the community around them”.

It will work with the Scottish Government and the national events agency Event Scotland as well as local councils to ensure events return safely, within a realistic timescale as well as developing public confidence.

Epic founder Shane Grieve said: “By working together, we know we can survive this and return stronger than ever. However, it needs the collective experience and world-class expertise that exists in Scotland to get together to ensure a collaborative and effective response.”

A message from the Editor:

Thank you for reading this story on our website. While I have your attention, I also have an important request to make of you.With the coronavirus lockdown having a major impact on many of our advertisers - and consequently the revenue we receive - we are more reliant than ever on you taking out a digital subscription.Subscribe to scotsman.com and enjoy unlimited access to Scottish news and information online and on our app. With a digital subscription, you can read more than five articles, see fewer ads, enjoy faster load times, and get access to exclusive newsletters and content. Visit www.scotsman.com/subscriptions now to sign up.

Our journalism costs money and we rely on advertising, print and digital revenues to help to support them. By supporting us, we are able to support you in providing trusted, fact-checked content for this website.

Joy Yates

Editorial Director

Related topics:

Comments

 0 comments

Want to join the conversation? Please or to comment on this article.