After a period of intense lobbying, and coordinated advocacy, involving three industry organisations, the challenge of having a set of International Standard Industrial Classification (ISIC) codes for the UK events sector may be a step closer.

Following the publication of an extensive White Paper, which was shared with key Government Departments, including the Department for Culture, Media & Sport (DCMS) and the Department for Business & Trade (DBT) and the Office for National Statistics (ONS), in February, the Meetings Industry Association, beam, and The Business of Events, collaborated to create and deliver, at the request of DBT and the ONS, a series of nineteen individual recommendations to implement new ISIC Codes.
The White Paper and recommendations were also supported and endorsed by the All Party Parliamentary Group for Events.

ISIC Codes are critical in accurately measuring the economic value of individual sectors from across the wider events economy, and as was highlighted during the period of the pandemic, not having accurate and real time data on the size and importance of the UK events sector, became a significant barrier when trying to gain further support and engagement from Government.

Following the submission of recommendations, there will be a period of further review and consultation with a decision coming in early 2026.

You can download a copy of the ISIC Codes and the Global Events Economy White Paper HERE.