All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) for Events chair Nick de Bois has been persuaded to stay on for another year following the cabinet reshuffle which saw Tourism and Heritage Minister and events supporter John Penrose stand down from his post.

De Bois was planning to stand down as the APPG chair but had been persuaded to stay for another 12 months in light of losing Penrose’s voice in Parliament. He said: "I am not quite sure where the events industry will sit in the new government, but as the dust settles, maybe responsibility for it will lie across departments." He added that if this was to happen, the need for excellent communications between these departments would be key.

His comments came during the Business Visits & Events Partnership (BVEP) 90-minute government briefing at the House of Commons on 5 September, which approximately 50 people attended.

De Bois added: “This is the year for us to deliver. Our role remains the obtaining of the government’s attention, support, recognition and understanding. In this year of the Olympics and Paralympics, we have to be loud and clear and build on the attention we have gained around the world.”

Michael Hirst, chair of BVEP and campaign spokesperson for Britain for Events, told attendees that the BVEP would soon be producing a review on the Olympic Games’ legacy and best practices and a tool kit for overseas planners thinking of organising events in the UK, as well as adding pressure to have VAT on event services reduced to levels enjoyed on the European mainland.

James Beresford, chief executive of VisitEngland, added that his organisation was 100 per cent behind the event industry, citing the success of 2012’s UK event calendar: “Our research showed that 22 per cent of Brits attended the Olympics torch relay, 81 per cent said events this year gave them immense pride and 43 per cent were inspired by these events to take a holiday or short break within the UK. We must not lose such momentum.”