The Events Industry Forum is an informal body which meets twice a year to provide a gathering where events industry trade associations and similar bodies can meet to discuss issues of common interest. Other than a Chairman and Secretary, elected annually `to co-ordinate meetings and disseminate information, the Forum has no formal structure or role, although from time-to-time it may act to represent its member bodies in respect of issues where there is a unilateral and common interest.

Current officers of the Forum are:

The Forum has one honorary member – Mick Upton.

Membership

There is no formal membership fee or structure other than that those joining the Forum must be involved in representing the UK event industry or influencing the industry through training/education.

There is no fixed annual membership fee. Member organisations are asked to each pay £100 on joining towards running costs and the Forum reserves the right to ask for a top up of this fund from members when it is required. Those making a contribution to the running of the EIF can attend meetings free and will receive all mailings.  Others will be expected to pay for any meetings they attend.

Member organisations are listed to the right – you can click on the organisation’s name to find out more about them.

HSE EVENT SAFETY (PURPLE) GUIDE - UPDATE

Following a series of issues with the HSE over the proposed content of their new guide, it now looks likely that the industry (via the Events Industry Forum) may be taking over publication with their blessing.

While a considerable amount of work has been done with the HSE to develop a new health and safety guide for events (HSG195 – Guide to health and safety at events) constraints within the HSE have made it impossible to cover the breadth of guidance needed to cover all the issues affecting the events industry.  As a result, the Forum made a decision in December 2011 to produce a series of event management guidances, which it plans to start publishing next year.    In view of this decision, the HSE is now considering not progressing their own guide and instead working with the EIF to develop one comprehensive set of guidances, including health and safety.  

In developing these new guidances, the Forum will be starting by picking up the huge amount of work that has already been done by Working Groups set up originally to work on the HSE guide.  An editing panel has been set up to take these guidances forward with the Working Groups as well as a process for doing this and ensuring that this happens efficiently and with the involvement of those Groups.

A copy of the process – together with a list of the guidances being planned – can be found here.

The Forum is very aware of issues with the consultation process that was originally set up by the HSE and every effort will be made to ensure that consultation continues with the Working Groups and all those who have registered interest in the guides.

In addition to the work that has already been done on some guidances, the EIF will also be setting up new Working Groups to develop additional guidances.   Anyone interested in being involved in any of these should contact EIF Secretary Jim Winship (jim@tesa.org.uk).

To ensure that you have your say, it is important that you register your interest on this site.  We will then notify you as each draft guide becomes available so that you can contribute to these important publications.

Although these new guidances will be produced by the industry, they are being developed in full consultation with the various Government and enforcement authorities and it is anticipated that they will eventually provide a much more comprehensive guide than the original Purple Guide

Parliamentary Group

The Forum has been instrumental in setting up an All-Party Group of MPs to represent the events industry in Parliament. If you have any issues you would like to make the Group aware of, or you would like to invite an MP to an event, please contact EIF Secretary Jim Winship –jim@tesa.org.uk

EIF Meetings

The EIF generally meets twice a year to discuss topics of interest to the industry.  Issues range widely, from sustainability to the Olympics and licensing.
If you have any issues you would like to have taken up by the Forum, please send them in writing – preferably by email – to the Secretary. The secretary is Jim Winship – jim@tesa.org.uk

The next meeting of the Forum is on Thursday 15th March 2012