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Business Events Growth Programme

The Business Events Growth Programme forms part of Government’s commitment to grow the business events sector. The programme supports the attraction of international business events, which align with the Government's priority industry sectors, the growth of the international profile of business events in the UK, as well as the creation of new business events. Through the programme, VisitBritain supports all organizations in hosting international business events in the UK. Whether you would like to win international events or to develop, grow and internationalise your events, the Business Events Growth Programme can support.

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Contents

Summary

VisitBritain offers three types of support:

  • Candidate City Bid Support to bid and win new international business events in Great Britain (financial support). Financial support is available up to the value of £20,000 to support cities in bidding for international business events. Funding granted will assist in bid costs for an international business event that is not currently held in Great Britain, with the objective of boosting winning potential and helping secure new international business events.

  • International Delegate Growth to support the creation, growth, and internationalisation of your business events in Great Britain. Financial support is available to new or recurring business events that are held in the UK, up to the value of £20,000 gross per event. Funds would be to support the creation, growth, development and internationalisation of business events. This includes support towards conferences, congresses, exhibitions and tradeshows taking place in Great Britain. 

  • Government Advocacy to support the British business events industry and add value to your events by working with HM Government (soft power support). VisitBritain works with the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) and other cross-government partners to offer Government Advocacy to British organisations, strengthening, boosting and adding value to their bids or future international business events. We make requests to the relevant Government departments (where feasible) that could aid the winning of international business events to Great Britain, or to grow the international profile of business events.

Eligibility

We welcome applications from various types of organisations, including but not limited to: event organisers, convention bureaus/destination management organisations, convention centres, universities or associations. If you are delivering the event in partnership, please make this clear in your application.

All applications will be assessed against eligibility criteria. Before submitting your application, please ensure you have reviewed the criteria and the guidlines available here:

  • Candidate City Bid Support to bid and win new international business events in the UK (financial support)

  • International Delegate Growth to support the creation, growth, and internationalisation of your business events in the UK (financial support)

  • Government Advocacy to support the UK’s business events industry and add value to your events by working with HM Government (soft power support)

Objectives

The grant has the key following objectives:

  • Support the bidding process for international business events not currently held in Great Britain, to help boost the winning potential.

  • Support the creation and the growth of business events in Great Britain, increasing international attendance, economic benefits through additional international visitor spend, and also encouraging greater international trade and investment potential.

Dates

Please note, the assessment is a two-way process and it can take up to 6 weeks from application to receive a Grant Funding Agreement. Bear this in mind when considering your activity.

How to apply

  1. Visit our VisitBritain website where you will find all the information.

  2. Read carefully the application guidelines, paying attention to the fund’s objectives and eligibility criteria. If you need clarification do not hesitate to get in touch.

  3. If you fulfil the mandatory eligibility criteria, please complete the Application Form of the strand you want to apply for: Candidate City Bid Support, International Delegate Growth, Government Advocacy.

  4. Complete the following supporting documentation: Annex B: Subsidy Control declaration form & BTA New Supplier request form (the latter only applicable if your organisation has not received direct grant payments from VisitBritain before).

  5. Submit the application form and the supporting documentation to EventSupport@visitbritain.org

Supporting information

We recommend to consult the VisitBritain webiste for futher information about the grant, examples of activties that can be supported and case studies from past events.