James Heappey MP (pictured above), chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group for the Events industry, will speak at this year’s National Outdoor Events Association (NOEA) Industry Awards and Convention, taking place 24 November.

The annual convention and awards will return to the Roman Baths and Pump rooms, Bath for a second year and will be themed ‘Commercialisation Project: How to Make More Money out of Outdoor Events’. Heappey will address delegates at the awards on his own personal thoughts on the subject.

The NOEA Convention will take place during the day and will include speakers with backgrounds from event technology, investment, sponsorship and marketing. The convention is promising every session will both save money and make money for event organisers and suppliers, with over 20 speakers in multiple break out sessions. In the evening the NOEA Awards will be presented to those businesses that have demonstrated success in these areas over the past 12 months.

“One of the biggest areas of concern for the outdoor sector of the UK events industry is how to create commercial and long term sustainable events. Every day outdoor events face risk in areas from the elements, secondary ticketing, and red tape to safety and security,” said Heappey. “This is an exciting theme for the day and I’m looking forward to hearing the views and of the many event organisers that will attend the awards later in the evening.”

“James’s own interest in the events industry comes from his personal passion for some of the great events that take place across the nation and specifically in the South West of England,” said Richard Limb, president of the National Outdoor Events Association. “This year’s convention and awards is taking a new direction with a subject that we know is top of mind with our members; the speaker line up is already looking exceptional and I’m excited about the big differences we can make in the day to day lives of attendees to both the day and the evening.”

A notable keynote address for the Convention will also be announced later in the summer.