The Meetings Industry Association (MIA) discussed what the Chancellor of the Exchequerโs 2025 Autumn Budget mean to the meetings industry. Here are the key points from last week’s budget announcement by MIAโs chief executive, Shonali Devereaux…
How does the Autumn Budget affect Business Rates
โThe governmentโs proposed reforms will provide welcome relief for over 750,000 retail, hospitality and leisure properties through lower business rates from April 2026. However, it is crucial that we receive confirmation that event venues are included within these defined industries. This statement from the Chancellor again reinforces the long-standing need for business meetings and events to be recognised as a distinct sector.
โWhile our industryโs inclusion in the Business Rates reform would be a positive step, reminiscent of the targeted support venues received during the pandemic, many larger venues could still face increased costs to compensate. We have long called for broader support across the sector, and without clarity and comprehensive measures, this reform risks placing additional strain on the large venues that host major events, potentially impacting their ability to invest, grow, and maintain the high-quality experiences that underpin the UKโs events economy.โ
Minimum wage increase
โThe business meetings and events sector has long provided a gateway into employment, providing vital first-step opportunities for young people, students and those re-entering the workforce. We fully support measures that enhance financial security for workers, but we must also recognise how our industry is uniquely exposed to the impact of minimum wage increases.
โMany event venues and agencies rely heavily on temporary and casual staff to manage natural fluctuations in events and varying service requirements. As wage rates continue to rise alongside broader inflationary and operational costs, profit margins are being squeezed further. This in turn could lead to reductions in staffing levels and, consequently, service and experience quality. This pressure risks weakening pathways into meaningful, long-term employment while placing additional strain on the workforce. Our MIA Insights already show that business meetings and events professionals are under pressure, and these changes are likely to intensify those challenges unless carefully managed within the context of our sectorโs staffing model.โ
Apprenticeships
โThe MIA welcomes the announcement of fully funded under-25 apprenticeships for SMEs , providing a guaranteed pathway for young people into training, education or work. With the persistent skills shortages and high recruitment pressures our sector currently faces, this could significantly strengthen the talent pipeline. This is needed to enable more venues and agencies – many of which are SMEs – to bring in and train early-career talent to support the development of practical skills our industry needs.
โOur industry has been proactively exploring ways to support and develop early-career talent since before the pandemic. We need to be ready to embrace the next generation and build a stable, future-ready workforce. Through The Power of Events, we have pioneered a not-for-profit framework, including school engagement initiatives, to support apprenticeships and develop early-career talent. This announcement reinforces our commitment to continuing this work, and we look forward to hearing more about how our industry can lead in this areaโ
Productivity
โThe MIA has welcomed productive discussions with government departments in recent months, giving us confidence that our sector will receive the recognition and support it deserves in line with our economic contributions. In light of these discussions and todayโs announcements, we now look forward to further conversations to ensure clarity on how these changes will affect our industry and how we can secure the support needed for continued growth.โ
About the mia
The mia is one of the fastest growing associations in the business meetings and events sector, founded by a proactive group of hotel and event venue operators and booking agents to provide the sector with education, training, best practice guidance, accreditation, and a voice to government.
The mia supports over 700 members by:
- Providing extensive regional networking opportunities on a monthly basis.
- Helping them to achieve the highest standards of facilities and service through achievement of AIM, the industry standard of quality and excellence.
- Providing a library of best practice and quality standards guidelines.
- Promoting AIM to industry buyers.
- Delivering tangible benefits which support members in the achievement of their own business goals.
- By the provision of information, education, research and advice all of which lead to improved business performance.
- By sharing issues of sector importance with them.
- By raising the profile of business tourism with government.
