Event Supplier and Services Association (ESSA) celebrated a successful year at its AGM last week, reporting a strong financial position, good membership retention levels and several new talent and training initiatives.
During the AGM, which took place on 13 July at Forest of Arden Golf Resort, the ESSA board highlighted developments and achievements over the past year, including last week’s launch of free individual student membership with the aim of attracting and developing new talent into the industry.
Also highlighted was the introduction of 12 ESSA Individual Induction online training courses focused on health and safety, investment in dedicated public affairs services to support raising the sectors’ profile with government and a new sustainability module as part of the ESSA Accredited programme.
Key developments
ESSA said enquiries to use its members via the member listings increased by 2000% over a 12-month period. The last year has also seen ESSA’s profile increase following the decision to invest in a PR, marketing and comms strategy and support.
ESSA board chair Lou Kiwanuka said the association’s renewal phase in early 2022 was the most successful on record, and how, without a dedicated resource to growing membership, it has matched or exceeded new member numbers compared to previous years.
Kiwanuka added that she has been inspired by the number of members coming together to support the ‘ESSA’s Asks’ manifesto. A report on this is to be released in the coming weeks.
Treasurer John Robson revealed that ESSA ended the year to December 2021 with a pre-tax profit and held healthy reserves on the balance sheet, following a series of cost-saving measures during the pandemic.
ESSA director Andrew Harrison said: “ESSA’s achievements in the areas of education, training and information over the last 12 months have exceeded all expectations. With a focus on leadership, representation, recovery, strategy and inclusivity, our proactive and dynamic board, alongside our amazing working groups, has been extremely successful in identifying need areas and pushing ideas forward towards fruition in line with ESSA’s objectives, goals and values.
“We are on the cusp of launching two exciting new initiatives and continue our work to improve upon ‘what does good look like’ in key areas such as health and safety and the welfare of those who work within it. This sharp focus on driving greater value has been reflected in our success markers which show that ESSA’s renewal phase during early 2022 was the most successful on record.”
Concluding the AGM was the appointment of new ESSA board members which saw Jason Stead, executive vice president, GES – EMEA Exhibitions, Hannah Jardine, business manager, Ignition DG and Dan Edwards, group operations director, Skyline Whitespace re-elected for a further term with the addition of one new board member, Garcia Newell, regional business development director – fairs and events Europe at DSV Fairs & Events.
