This week I was back covering the Local Business Awards (via EventPix) – it was great to feel the vibe in the room as small business owners and their staff got to enjoy a night out. Festivals might still be stifled but smaller events are back and the clients are loving it!

Now to the Business Events Grants Scheme.

I did have a chat with Austrade this week and they will be responding to a series of questions that I will be putting to them. If you have questions of your own feel free to forward them to me for inclusion in the list.

Here are two more articles on the scheme – first from Russell McIntosh has spent over 20 years in the event industry and most recently helped clients apply for the Business Events Grants – this was his experience.

And then – some big winners from Land Forces – the expo that topped the list of grant recipients from the BEG.

Applying for Business Events Grants – an insider’s view

The Business Events Grant (BEG) was a clear attempt by the federal government to stimulate the trade show industry during its darkest mid-pandemic hour. In my view, it missed the mark on many fronts. 

How many “small businesses” spend $325,000 on an expo?

One thing I found out is that the figures quoted for events such as Land Forces are skewed because some grants were for multiple events and Austrade could not separate how much was for each so those grants were listed under one event.

Rachel Argaman recognised with an OAM

This award recognises Rachel’s time with the TOGA Hospitality Group, her tenure spanning almost twenty years with the company, and moving to CEO in June 2007. 

Joining out catalogue of opinion writes is Zac Fitz-Roy, the son of our most prolific;and of course another article from his father. Now where is yours – please have your say, that is what this platform is for.

What does the future of the industry look like for young people in events?

Not just the landscape of events and organisers, but the people within the industry – specifically the younger generations. As someone who has come into the industry by virtue of a family business (and I’ll note – against the advice of my parents who suggested I should follow my law degree, as people will always have problems with people), it’s an industry I love.

Mainstream Media ignoring Business Events

It is envisaged that COVID variants will remain circulating around the world until at least the end of 2023. This means we still have a long road to travel and if mainstream media don’t change how they sensationalise COVID, the impact on the events sector could continue to set back our return for some time.