An enviable global reputation
Scotland as an events powerhouse
Scotland hosts a scale and breadth of sporting, cultural, and business events, belying our size. Events play a key role in contributing to Scotland’s visitor economy, creating jobs, stimulating investment, and sustaining communities across the country. This sparks a ripple effect that benefits a wider supply chain.
How events contribute to the economy
£5.5 billion*
added to the economy annually in total by the Scottish events industry
£61.6 billion
added to the economy annually in total by the UK events industry
£33.6 billion
added to the economy annually by UK corporate events
£28 billion
added to the economy annually by UK leisure and outdoor events
Source: UKEVENTS Report (October 2024). *Estimated by VisitScotland as the allocation of the UKEVENTS report’s total UK-level economic impact figure attributable to Scotland.
Events research resources
UKEVENTS
This is a recognised collective voice for the UK’s world leading events industry.
They represent every part of the diverse, creative, and dynamic sector across the whole of the UK, championing the economic, societal, and transformational value of events.
Their online directory lists reports, white papers, expert articles, industry guides, and related materials.
It also includes other resources on events, especially books. New items are continually being added to the directory.
UK MUSIC
In July 2024, UK Music, the collective voice of the UK music industry, unveiled new research into the value of gigs, concerts, and festivals to local economies.
The report evidences that music tourism is a growing part of the music industry with increased spend and benefits across the UK. The impacts from music tourism at a Scotland level are:
- 1.6 million visits
- £499 million in spend
- 4,320 people employed
PLASA workforce and skills report 2024
Conducted in 2024, PLASA is the lead international membership body for those who supply technologies and services to the event and entertainment industries.
Their workforce and skills report summarises key findings of an online survey among people working in the entertainment and event technology sector in relation to the current skills in the industry.
This report highlights the following growing concerns in the entertainment and events technology sector workforce:
- skills shortages - the industry faces a significant shortage of experienced and skilled personnel, impacting business more than energy costs, world affairs, or Brexit
- higher education - the current higher education system is not delivering the necessary skills for the industry
- ageing workforce - the industry has an ageing workforce, with insufficient young people entering and staying in the field
Spirit of 2012
This independent trust was established by the National Lottery Community Fund as a legacy funder to continue the pride and positivity that many people felt following the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
The organisation has carried out extensive research and developed many resources across a range of areas, including:
- how the infrastructure around events can be improved to achieve better legacies
- considerations to effectively embed equality, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) in planning and delivery
- how events have an impact on social cohesion and connection
- ways in which events contribute to the communities in which they take place
- models of leaving a long-term impact from volunteering programmes
- how cultural volunteering programmes can improve placed based volunteering infrastructure
UK SPORT
In 2023, UK Sport launched its second Value of Events Report alongside The Sports Consultancy.
This report looked at the extensive portfolio of major sports events hosted across the UK in 2023, exploring their economic, environmental, and sporting impacts.
Edinburgh Festivals
This umbrella organisation was formed in 2007 through collaboration between the directors of Edinburgh’s leading festivals.
The organisation hosts a document library that includes research reports by and about the festivals to help them identify and understand their impact.
Act Green 2024
In 2024, cultural organisations in the UK (including theatres, arts centres, festivals, touring companies, museums, and galleries) were invited to participate in the Act Green sustainability research.
Delivered by Indigo Ltd, the report provides insight into audience and visitor attitudes to the climate emergency.
VisitScotland
We also publish tourism research and insights for the wider tourism and events industry.
Are you planning your first event, or looking to develop an established event or festival? A range of advice and guidance on accessing funding, partnerships, marketing and more is available on our Business Support Hub.
Association of Independent Promoters (AIP)
This group brings together independent promoters from across the UK with the aim to represent, empower, and provide a vital support network to music promoters.
A report was published in 2024 that spotlights the vital role of independent live music promoters in the UK music scene. It highlighted the role of these promotors as champions of local artists and the challenges promoters face in the UK.
Read the 2024 Association of Independent Promotors report on squarespace.com.
