The exhibitions and conference sector has been “cut adrift” and left without support, says a Harrogate events company.
Andrew Manby, director of family events firm Joe Manby Ltd, said the Chancellor’s announcement today offered no specific support for the industry which already faces a “long way back” financially.
Rishi Sunak, Chancellor of the Exchequer, outlined billions of pounds’ worth of support for businesses, including subsiding part-time workers’ pay.
But Mr Manby said he had hoped for sector specific measures for an industry which has been closed down since March. Harrogate has seen a string of major events, conferences and exhibitions cancelled during the pandemic and its convention centre converted into a Nightingale Hospital.
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Mr Manby said today’s announcement did not appear to offer any ray of hope and added that the outlook was bleak for the sector.
He said:
“We need to reflect on what has been said, but on first glance it looks very grim indeed.
“it is an extremely difficult situation and where that leaves the exhibition market long term, I have no idea.
“It was always going to be a long haul back anyway.”
He added that further restrictions on events, which the Prime Minister said could last for six months, leave the industry in a difficult position. Live events, including sport, were due to have pilot events from October for the first time since the pandemic started.
But Prime Minister Boris Johnson abandoned the pilot schemes earlier this week after he outlined further restrictions to tackle an increase in coronavirus cases.
In an effort to offer more support to businesses, Mr Sunak outlined a range of measures in the House of Commons which included an extension to the VAT cut for the hospitality and tourism sector.
Some Harrogate businesses welcomed the move, but added that further support would be needed for other firms.
