MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT

Tom Clements

Looking forward to 2023 as an association …

I was thinking the other day about the first time my name was associated with President of the National Outdoor Events Association, and how that felt. It was certainly flattering, the chance to play a major role in the direction of the industry’s primary association. It was a big responsibility, but again, this is something I’ve always felt comfortable with. I was aware of the time commitment, but honestly, I was pretty sure, surrounded as I was with quality people, it really wouldn’t impinge too much on my daily life. So, why not, a great opportunity.

At the same time as I was accepting the Presidency, Covid-19 was making its way out of China and within months would be shutting down the UK and the UK events industry. From that moment on I am happy to claim, I have had the most extraordinary Presidency in our association’s 40+ years!

It’s 2023 now and I’m just about able to put the pandemic behind me despite the many hang overs that the industry still faces, and that will continue to plague us over the next five years. I said two years ago that all I wished for was to be back, standing in a field, with my colleagues across the events industry. Last year I was able to. This coming year, I’ll be able to do so again, and this gives me immense pleasure.

Equally, as an association, NOEA has grown in profile and stature; we’ve reached more people and affected more outcomes for the industry than ever before. I wonder why that is, and as much as I’d like to put it down to inspired leadership and the undoubted qualities of the people in and around NOEA, I think it’s also important to lay credit where it is due to our members.

Every time we have been asked for insight, research, or commentary, on a myriad of different issues, we reach out to our members, and they come up with the goods. They are free with opinion, solution, and give their time to help others in similar positions. It makes us a credible partner to both business and government.

Behind the scenes, our Chief Executive, Susan Tanner (with a bit of help from me!) has sat on many governmental and non-governmental committees, working tirelessly on how to better the events industry, keeping both the industry and NOEA at the forefront with government, a position we certainly hadn’t achieved pre Covid!

In March 2022, we came up with the idea of the BVEP reinventing itself to become an overall umbrella association representing all fractions of the event industry, something we’ve never had before. In November they relaunched as ‘UK EVENTS’ with Susan Tanner one of their Vice -Chair’s, and the outdoor events working group headed by Nick Morgan working to promote and develop our industry on a national level.

The cost-of-living crisis and the fall out from Covid still affect our members and we, as an association, are fighting daily for help and assistance for the industry and will continue to do so. This Yearbook is full of those members. Their quality is underscored by the checks and balances we put in place before businesses are allowed to become members, and because of this they make up a compendium of some of the best, most credible, and reliable businesses in the UK industry.

I wanted to take this opportunity to thank them all, not just for their contributions to NOEA becoming a more powerful association. But for their continual support as members of it.

I’d encourage any event organiser, established or new, to use this Yearbook as your first port of call in building a successful, reliable, and stable event.

I would also like to thank everyone wo attended our Convention & Awards Dinner in November, the first live event we have had in three years. It was a great day and evening, highlighting the best of NOEA and the industry. I also would like to thank the members of the General Council for their support and friendship over the last 12 months, plus of course Susan Tanner, who never seems to stop working on behalf of NOEA but who without, we would not be the leading association in the UK that we are.

Good luck to everyone for 2023.

Tom Clements, President