Access All Areas, the Night Time Industries Association (NTIA) and We Are the Fair have teamed up to myth bust event industry stigmas and highlight the vast economic impact of our industry.

The events revolution has seen UK festival numbers swell from a handful in the 90s to more than 1,000 last year, netting £5bn for UK Plc. Despite this, negative media coverage has warped public and institutional perceptions.

The Political Economy of Informal Events, 2030 debunks common myths about event-related crime, and outlines emerging growth areas on both a micro and macro level. The results present a strong case for promoting the medium of events to local authorities and planners.

The White Paper is now available to read for free online, or to purchase.

While disparate reports on the impact of events exist, this paper collates and contrasts these for the first time, utilising new data and official government statistics to demonstrate the increased importance events have, both economically and socially.

Julian Agostini, MD of Access‘ publisher Mash Media, who contributes to the report, said: “When events happen, participants come looking for other services, and are prepared to pay for them. This ground-breaking report shows the radical effects of our industry – but perhaps more importantly it shines a light on how we can help other sectors grow with us.”

The publishers hope that the paper deepens what UK cities and other jurisdictions think and do around events. “If England’s 353 local authorities, together with the unitary authorities run by Scotland (32), Wales (22) and Northern Ireland (11), get together with Business Improvement Districts and other local forces to bring events into their master plans for the future, they will be able make a lot more out of events than they do at present,” added Agostini.

The White Paper draws on economics, politics, sociology and technology to make its case, with exclusive insight from the likes of Warehouse Project founder Sacha Lord, Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham and Clare Coghill, leader of Waltham Forest Council.

It estimates the future demand for events and the challenges – particularly around licensing – that are likely to emerge for informal events over the decade to come.

The Political Economy of Informal Events, 2030 was commissioned and published by Mash Media. Foreword by: Julian Agostini, (MD, Mash Media), Alan D Miller, (chairman, The Night Time Industries Association) Nick Morgan (CEO, We Are The Fair). It was written and edited by James Woudhuysen, visiting professor, forecasting & innovation, London South Bank University.

The print version of report is available for £7.99.

The Political Economy of Informal Events, 2030