The Events Industry Forum

Aims & Objectives

1. See the limited company Articles of Association.

1. The Events Industry Forum represents the UK outdoor events industry and publishes the Purple Guide.  The Purple Guide is guidance, formerly published by the Health and Safety Executive which is widely recognised as the key reference source for managing events outdoors’.

2. Membership of the Forum which operates as a not-for-profit organisation, is made up of event industry trade associations and representative organisations.  It also has an associate made up of enforcement agencies and similar bodies. The Forum meets regularly to discuss issues of common interest.

3. The Forum Articles set out the parameters for how the Forum functions, including details of its operational structure and voting rights.  See Articles of Association.

4. The Forum has a Chair and Secretary who are responsible for overseeing the day-to-day running of the organisation, and in addition a Board of Directors who are elected by the membership.

Current officers are Steve Heap from the Association of Festival Organisers as Chair, Jim Winship from the Event Services Association as Secretary.

Other Board Members are  Mark Laurie (NCASS); Carl Hagemann (CIMSPA); Tupokigwe Mwaljumba (Major Events International);
Alison Drummond (LAOEG), Steve Heap (AFO) and Jim Winship (TESA).  At time of writing, we were expecting to increase our Board membership to nine.

Aims & Objectives

I believe these are covered in the main in the words above.  However, one might add:

1. The Forum is not a charity but operates as a ‘not-for-profit’ organisation in respect of all the income it generates.
2. The Forum has no shares and or profits – after costs, all funds generated are ring-fenced to support projects that benefit the UK outdoor events industry through grants or direct funding.
3. The Forum owns and publishes the Purple Guide – see https://www.thepurpleguide.co.uk/
4. For a list of current members of EIF see eventsindustryforum.co.uk

5. The Forum is open to membership from associations and organisations that work in and support the outdoor events industry.
6. The Membership fee is a token figure of £50 per annum (on July 1, 2023).
7. Each association has one vote.
8. A variety of representatives from enforcement agencies such as police, the Institute of Licensing and others are invited to join Forum meetings as Associates but do not have a vote.
9. In a stalemate vote the Chair has a discretionary extra vote.
10. Associations and organisations are encouraged to send one member to meetings.  However, two can attend by arrangement with the Secretary, but only one can vote.
11. The Forum meets generally four times a year.  Normally three virtually and one face-to-face.
12. The Forum has no offices of its own but use the offices of the J&M Group Limited in Chepstow as registered and mailing address.
13. The Chair and Secretary, by agreement of the Board, are paid an annual stipend plus agreed expense. Other board members can also claim expenses incurred during exhibitions and events attended on behalf of EIF.
14. The main purpose of the Forum is to bring together its membership to highlight and discuss issues affecting the outdoor events industry and to advise, recommend and support its members collectively.

15. The Forum is not a political lobby group but does occasionally act to support the industry and its members on issues that collectively affect them.
16. The Forum may engage specialists from time to time to advise and sometimes speak for the Forum with the agreement of the Board.
17. Guest speakers may occasionally be invited to address Forum meetings but do not have a vote.
18. Purple Guide funds are collected at £25 + VAT per subscription from a wide variety of people both national and international. We could add ‘and in view of the financial challenges faced by the industry has remained unchanged since the Forum took over publication of the Purple Guide.
19. The Board may from time-to-time vary the fee charged.   There are special rates for organisations purchasing multiple copies of the guide.

EIF and Purple Guide are both titles that are recognised and respected in both the events industry and government at all levels.

The Events Industry Forum represents the UK outdoor events industry and publishes the Purple Guide, the guidance formerly published by the Health & Safety Executive which is widely recognised as the key reference source for managing events outdoors.   

Membership of the Forum, which operates as a not-for-profit organisation, is made up of event industry trade associations and representative organisations.   It also has an Associated Membership of enforcement agencies and similar bodies who meet regularly to discuss issues of common interest.

The Forum Articles set out the parameters for how the Forum functions, including details of its operational structure and voting rights.  See Articles here

The Forum has a Chair and Secretary who are responsible for overseeing the day-to-day running of the organisation as well as a Board of Directors who are elected by the membership.  

Current Officers of the Forum

• Chair – Steve Heap (Association of Festival Organisers – 01629 827014)
• Secretary - Jim Winship (The Event Services Association – 07850 104034)

Other Board Members

• Tom Devine (UKCMA)
• Mark Laurie (NCASS)
• Carl Hagemann (CIMSPA)
• Tupokigwe Mwaijumba (MEI)
• Alison Drummond (LAEOG)
• Craig Mathie (South Coast Events Forum)
• Mark Bradshaw (HAE)

‘Membership’ of the Forum is only open to trade and similar organisations who are involved in representing the UK event industry or influencing the industry through training/education.