Paul Colston sits with Rick Stenton from the power of the event to discuss two years of progress and activities.
Industry advocacy groups and nonprofit organization The Power of Events (POE) was center stage at International Confex at the end of February.
In addition to curating eight sessions at Excel London keynotes, the POE team was active in showing the strength and reach of the industry on the main stage of the event production show.
With two years of effort under the organization’s belt, the team wanted to scream about the key pillars of the work and bring the message to the event industry and throughout the educational facility.
There’s a good story to tell, and there’s a smart new tool to tell it: the event industry insights app, career hubs on the main platform, and school engagement programs across the UK are all rolled out and building momentum. POE founder Rick Stainton told CN during CN’s break that all of these initiatives were created based on suggestions from official supporters and partners in the seven sectors that make up the wider event industry. It is a testament to a wide range of democratic movements that feed organizations.
Updates and activities at Confex streamed live on February 13th, including contributions from over 25 industry leaders, following an hour of LinkedIn broadcast supported by D&B Solutions and Giant Itab.
LiveStream’s broadcasts showcase what POE is and thank the industry for unprecedented collaborations to make it happen, including updates and exciting plans for further development of the school’s engagement program, seeking more than 250 engagements in 2025.
The Insight app has been downloaded by over 600 organizations and over 2,000 individuals so far, and has been able to participate in six pulse survey checks. The app also includes collaborations with Northampton University, Greenwich University and Manchester Metropolitan University this summer (collaboration with Greenwich University and Manchester Metropolitan University).
Looking back at his two years of hard work, Stanton praised the commitment of time that hundreds of volunteers put in. Many of them also joined the advisory committee and/or became “ambassadors” to provide presentation showcases at schools and universities.
He also thanked his partners for inviting POEs to industry events and awards to help spread the word. “It’s refreshing to see the competitive advantage that so many partners who have contributed to the initial success of the growth of the power of the event are set aside,” he says.
“If you’re promoting the event industry and you don’t sit behind the screen and go to events, you’re not practicing preaching. Our team has put a lot of effort into going to live events in many industries since day one, so we listen and listen when advocating the power of events. Every job we do is proposed to be trusted by the event industry.”
Steington also emphasized that everyone feels “invited” to the project, and that it is “depending on the industry” and not about deciding what the POE team should do. “We have an advisory committee with 35 industry leaders in seven sectors, and we also have regular task force meetings open to our supporters.” He claims it has helped to promote the sense of community and ownership of all people who are passionate about the UK’s events industry.
He explained that the open task force is about what is now, but the advisory committee is about checking future plans and considering long-term strategies.
Regarding industry feedback over two years, Stainton said it was to recommend focusing on doing two or three things very well, rather than working on too many proposed projects at the same time.
That said, quite a lot has been taken over and achieved because of the top line victory, summary and presence.
He launched the Research App, a pilot at the University of Northampton, and spread it through a pulse check and research project that downloaded 2,000 engagement programs in 2024, including 120 engagements that involved over 22,000 young people. Apprentice, internship/placement, direct recruitment.
“The school has an obligation to participate in industry speakers and we are grateful for our supportive approach. We have signed up hundreds of ambassadors to photograph their messages,” adds Stenton.
This March, Edinburgh will be the fourth region to participate in the school’s engagement programme alongside Birmingham, South Coast and Hertfordshire, with the Liverpool/Manchester/Cheshire, London and Bristol/Bass regions expected to become part of it in 2025.
Stanton said that more than 100 schools have been booked in 2025 with four current activity areas in 2025, with more than 150 school engagement from the new proposed area planned for the second half of 2025 could potentially engage more than 50,000 young people this year.
He also emphasizes that all major trade associations, trade media and support organizations as partners are to emphasize that the power of events is not to replicate efforts in that aspect, but rather to showcase all the great work in one place.
Stainton is keenly aware that the pace of delivery depends on participation and funding, encouraging more engagement and at least downloading the app to increase representative responses to pulse checks and future research projects. He ended his rally call with the event’s catchphrase: “Support, Share, Proposal.”
The range of supporters is a new source of the industry that Stainton reminds us, from rights holders and organizers to major venues, AV production companies, staffing companies, institutions and infrastructure providers. And while he recognizes this strength, he emphasizes that he has high hopes for delivery.
You can help with that process by joining www.thepowerofevents.org.
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