Figures from the European exhibition industry have voiced polarising opinions about the global implications of Britain leaving the EU.
Britain’s Prime Minister David Cameron is tipped to hold a referendum on the country’s EU membership this year, prompting EventHuddle to organise a debate between exhibition organisers and event influencers last month.
“Diplomats in Washington think we’d be crazy to come out of the EU and they’re people we do business with in the UK, so there are implications by simply having this debate,” said Simon Hughes, managing partner of consultancy MCHA, who argued that a united Europe represents a rich offer to the world. “Europe is the biggest consumer market and staying part of that has a compelling storyline.”
A counter argument was posed by Rapiergroup founder and former MP Nick De Bois, who said Britain would do better to align itself with emerging markets instead. “The WTO has stated that Europe accounts 37 per cent of world economy but that it will be down to 25 per cent by 2030. “Someone running an exhibition looks at profitability and the needs of their target audience, I don’t think being in the EU affects that decision much. I want to align Britain to the trading blocks that are growing. So much is currently decided by an unelected person in Brussels. We must remain flexible and dynamic to the world’s changing economic needs,” he added.
Elsewhere, concerns about the events industry’s lack of education on the issue of EU membership was voiced. Managing director at Crown Business Communications Nicky Havelaar said that the busy day-today activity of the industry meant that little time or consideration is being given to the business implications of leaving the EU. She added that the timescales and bureaucracy involved in changing business relationships would cause her business to lose European clients.
“Things take so long to get into place, and some of our clients will leave. I can tell you that much. “If there’s any hint of process or barriers to get people into the country it would be perceived as a problem and clients will vote with their feet. We have many international clients and it would affect them I know for a fact.”
Asked whether major exhibition industry players would feel a signifi cant effect from EU withdrawal, Hughes said that it will come down to cost. “From my experience, mainland European clients say that Britain is around 20 per cent more expensive than elsewhere, but that might be because we are often better creatively, and we have a very skilled industry in terms of everything down to our technicians and so forth.”
Event and broadcast specialist Jeremy Jacobs added that the UK can hold its own without the need to be part of the EU. “What concerns me is, come the referendum, people will be confused where to vote. IMEX is coming up, and I’d like to see more world class exhibition locations in Britain. Excel is our biggest, but we need more. Our infrastructure in general is not up to the US standard. “A tremendous amount of event exhibition business comes from the EU, but I don’t think our exit affects it,” he added.
