The UK's Event Supplier and Services Association (ESSA), together with the Association of Event Organisers (AEO) and the Association of Event Venues (AEV) has announced the official recognition and sign-off of the UK event industry’s All Secure Expo Pilot, 18 November.
The All Secure Standard covers exhibitions and large conferences.
ESSA says the new standard now “recognises the competency” of the UK event industry to put on safe and controlled business events by following the All Secure Standard, following weeks of work by the three associations and their members, and the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport (DCMS).
The All Secure Standard began development during the summer and culminated with the All Secure Expo Pilot event, which took place at the BDC in Islington, London, 2 September. ESSA has said that the successful pilot event demonstrated that a return to live events during the Covid-pandemic was perfectly plausible, provided a clear set of protocols and guidelines were in place.
The All Secure Standard, set out by ESSA, AEO and AEV, and their stakeholders, provides a framework of guidance and risk assessments to ensure a safe return to live events. All the work has now been approved by the UK Government.
Andrew Harrison, ESSA’s director, welcomed the news on behalf of all three associations. “This is the culmination of a great deal of effort by all three associations and their members to restart live events in the UK,” he said. “Despite the colossal damage inflicted on our industry by this virus, the government’s approval of the All Secure Expo Pilot means that we have proven the case for a safe return.”
Harrison concluded that this is now the foundation for continuing work to develop a road map towards a new ‘go date’ for the sector.
