Help us shape the future of Scotland’s world-leading events status

Robbie Clyde, Head of EventScotland reinforces the importance of responding to the National Events Strategy consultation in order to shape the future of Scotland’s world-leading events status.??

Last month (March 23) in collaboration with the Scottish Government and our Events Industry Advisory Group, we launched the National events strategy review: consultation, in order to hear what you think on a range of areas including scale of ambition and key priorities for the next 12 years through to 2035. The strategy once updated will provide a focus for all involved in any aspect of planning, securing, supporting and delivering events of all sizes in Scotland.

Over the last 20 years, Scotland has worked incredibly hard to build a global reputation as one of the world's best events destinations. ?We’ve hosted a range of major events drawing global audiences, all of which underline the quality, scale and capability which Scotland has developed and built, and which is regarded enviously by our peers.

Our atmospheric crowds, iconic venues, and picture-perfect backdrops have played host to world-leading music, cultural, sporting and business events including the 2014 Commonwealth Games, 2014 Ryder Cup, 2018 European Championships, 2019 Solheim Cup, UEFA?Euro 2020, COP26 in 2021, and five major golf tournaments in 2022 including The 150th Open at St Andrews.?Our globally admired annual Edinburgh festivals including the Edinburgh International Festival and Edinburgh Festival Fringe also continue to bring talent from the world's countries to our streets and stages each year.

Alongside major events in the calendar, we’ve also celebrated a range of successful Themed Years, supported brand new and much-loved returning events through our core funding programmes, as well as a series of community-led events across the years.

The impact of this consistent and sustained focus on developing Scotland’s events industry over the last 20 years has been transformative, to the point where Scotland’s reputation as a global events leader is unquestionable – Scotland is punching above its weight!

When our national events strategy ‘Scotland the Perfect Stage’, was first published in 2008, it set out a vision to be a global leader in the events industry, highlighting the range of benefits that a strong portfolio of events can yield for a destination.?It was last reviewed and updated to cover the period to cover the period 2015 - 2025.

Scotland has had many successes under the current strategy.?We have utilised and developed the assets that make Scotland a perfect stage for events, and which attract global audiences through our people, our cultural identity & heritage, our natural environment, our built facilities and our signature events.??But we’ve also had challenges, none more so than those brought on by the pandemic which hugely affected global?events, as well as Scotland’s events ecosystem.

Ensuring a sustainable pipeline of events is fundamental for ensuring Scotland maintains its world-leading status.?To make sure the future of events in Scotland is fit for purpose, it’s vital that there is a clear shared ambition that we can collectively work towards.?But first we need to take stock of where we are and where we want to be, we need to understand if we're still meeting our lofty ambitions; or should we be doing more, or doing things differently??

Today (Friday 21 April) we begin delivering a series of free, in-person regional consultation workshops which are available to sign-up for now. The workshops will provide an opportunity to hear from those leading the review, plus offer the chance for you to contribute directly to the consultation exercise.?

The event sector brings proven positive impact across a wide range of policy areas for Scotland. However, Scotland’s ability to host and support events cannot be taken for granted. So, if you're part of our events industry, you love going to events, or if you're just proud about what hosting fantastic events does for our communities and country, then I’d urge you all to respond to the consultation.