Progress for ‘Martyn’s Law’

The Institute of Event Management is following with interest the progress of The Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Bill, also known as ‘Martyn’s Law’ in honour of Martyn Hett, a victim of the Manchester Arena attack in 2017.

The Bill, which will introduce new safety responsibilities for UK venues and public event spaces, has progressed through its second reading in the House of Lords where it received cross-party support. The Bill will next undergo scrutiny at the Committee stage.

The Bill establishes a tiered approach, based on the venue, the activity or the event, and the number of attendees. Large venues or events with a capacity of more than 800 people will be expected to meet comprehensive security obligations. Martyn’s Law will also apply to the 150,000-plus premises with a capacity of 200 to 800 people. These smaller venues will be required to implement practical and straightforward security measures.

Research last year found that 43 per cent of UK venues were unsure how to prepare for ‘Martyn’s Law’. In response, the Home Office has published a factsheet which is available here and will be regularly updated.

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Point of View: Tracy John

Being recognised by the Institute of Event Management (IEM) holds great significance for me. It validates my expertise and dedication to the events industry and opens up opportunities for further growth, learning, and development.


By being actively involved with the Institute, I can contribute to and learn from a community of like-minded professionals who share my values and dedication to creating more environmentally conscious and socially responsible events. This involvement not only enhances my knowledge and skills but also enables me to make a positive impact on the industry as a whole.


Looking ahead, my aspiration is for the IEM to emerge as a dominant global authority in the events industry. The organisation should aim to establish benchmarks for excellence, foster innovation, and champion sustainable practices within the sector.

Furthermore, providing a comprehensive range of CPD courses tailored specifically for event professionals will eliminate the need for them to seek educational opportunities from other professional bodies to enhance their industry knowledge and expertise.


Attending the A Greener Future conference last February was a transformative experience. The conference featured its inspirational founder, Dr Teresa Moore; Attitude is Everything, who connect disabled people with the music and live event industries to improve accessibility; and Julie’s Bicycle, the pioneering non-profit that is mobilising the arts and culture sectors to take action on the climate, nature and justice crisis.

Their insights on eco-friendly event practices, the importance of sustainable sourcing, and reducing carbon footprints left a lasting impact on me.

Season’s greetings from the IEM

As the year comes towards a close, we want to thank you for being part of the Institute of Event Management. Over the last 12 months we have made significant progress in developing professional recognition for our members, and ensuring the next generation of students are equipped with the skills needed to thrive in our dynamic and fast-moving industry.

Don’t forget that among our member benefits is access to unique life and work skills programmes, at no extra cost. We have courses coming up – what better way to kickstart the new year?

The Purpose Programme (three sessions starting 10 January) is about finding your focus in life and work. The Health and Wellbeing Programme (three sessions starting 6 March) aims to keep you functioning at peak performance and will transform your thinking on stress, nutrition and culture. For more details, email diane.earles@event-managers.institute.

We wish you a happy holiday season and look forward to a prosperous and impactful 2025 filled with world-class events!

The Institute of Event Management directors

New year, new you! (It’s a cliché, but…)

As an IEM Member you’re investing in your event management career and your professional body. In return, the IEM makes a commitment to invest in you.

Among our member benefits is access to three unique life and work skills programmes, at no extra cost to you. We have courses coming up and are taking bookings now: for more details email diane.earles@event-managers.institute.

The Purpose Programme (three sessions starting 10 January) is about finding your focus in life and work, brought to you by Dublin Conversations and facilitated by the engaging and intuitive Andy Green.

The Health and Wellbeing Programme (three sessions starting 6 March) aims to keep you functioning at peak performance. Designed by Healthy Leaders, it will transform your thinking on stress, nutrition and culture.

Are you an event professional reading this who’s not a member of the IEM? Don’t these benefits sound like a great reason to join?

Invest 2035: The UK’s Modern Industrial Strategy

We’ve contributed to the development of the UK Government’s new Industrial Strategy, the proposed plan to boost investment, growth and stability. The final Industrial Strategy will be published in Spring 2025, alongside the multi-year Spending Review.

Why contribute? Because we are an influential and independent voice within the events sector – a sector in which the UK is globally renowned. It employs more than 775,000 people and is worth £61 billion annually. The sector sits across multiple Government departments, is supported by more than 100 trade associations, and is replenished by students from 68 universities offering 151 courses.

The IEM champions event professionals and provides a route to professional recognition. We believe we can support the Government across:

– skills development, including recognition via accreditation, experiential or vocational routes;
– improved procurement through a better understanding of the event management supply chain;
– work with Government departments to develop professional standards;
– upskilling those who organise events for economic, professional or community development throughout the UK, thus contributing to the levelling-up agenda; and
– capitalising on global contacts to provide routes for event business.

The UK is a world leader in every aspect of event management and its professionals are in high demand. We want to support future growth across every aspect of our industry.

Attention event management students!

If you’re looking to find out more about the industry and secure a work placement, here’s an event that will definitely be worth attending.

On 10 and 11 December, 10am-3pm, Pitch2Post is hosting a FREE webinar for students focused around events delivery. It’s a chance to learn from leading practitioners, ask questions, and potentially find a placement.

Among those taking part are industry leaders from the Live Group, TRO, Touch Associates, The Creative Co, Bournemouth 7s Festival, Fourth Wall and The Occasionall Group.

Want to know more? You can find out more and sign up at: http://bit.ly/3Cwn5WU

Member benefits – new courses starting!

As an IEM Member you’re investing in your event management career and your professional body. In return, the IEM makes a commitment to invest in you.

Among our member benefits is access to three unique life and work skills programmes, at no extra cost to you. We have courses coming up and are taking bookings now: for more details email diane.earles@event-managers.institute.

The Purpose Programme (starting 4 October) is about finding your focus in life and work, brought to you by Dublin Conversations and facilitated by the engaging and intuitive Andy Green.

The Health and Wellbeing Programme (starting 3 October) aims to keep you functioning at peak performance. Designed by Healthy Leaders, it will transform your thinking on stress, nutrition and culture.

Are you an event professional reading this who’s not a member of the IEM? Don’t these benefits sound like a great reason to join?

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Damian Bridgeman appointed Founding Fellow

As an accomplished Government adviser, disability advocate, healthcare entrepreneur and expert in assistive technology, Damian brings a wealth of experience and expertise to the Institute, further enhancing its mission to advance the event management profession.

His appointment marks a significant milestone in the Institute’s ongoing efforts to promote inclusivity and excellence in event management. Damian’s pioneering work in advocating for inclusivity and #accessibility within the event industry aligns perfectly with the Institute’s core values. His commitment to ensuring that events are accessible and inclusive for all individuals will play a critical role in shaping the future of event management.

As co-director of the Purple Pound Foundation CIC, Damian has been at the forefront of efforts to enhance the economic empowerment of people with disabilities. He has been instrumental in advocating for greater inclusion and accessibility in events, recognising the significant market potential of the ‘Purple Pound’ – the spending power of disabled individuals.

In the coming months, the Purple Pound Foundation will be developing new standards aimed at furthering economic empowerment and inclusivity for people with disabilities. Damian is actively seeking members of the Institute to collaborate on this important initiative. This will be crucial in ensuring that the standards are comprehensive, practical and impactful for the event management industry.

Damian invites those who are interested in contributing to this effort to reach out to him directly on LinkedIn. This is a unique opportunity to be part of a groundbreaking initiative that will set new benchmarks for inclusivity and accessibility in the event management sector.

Commenting on his appointment and the upcoming collaboration, Damian said, “I am deeply honored to join the Institute of Event Management as a Founding Fellow. This is a significant opportunity to contribute to an industry that plays a vital role in bringing people together and promoting well-being.

“I look forward to working with my colleagues to ensure that events are not only accessible but also empowering for everyone involved. I am particularly excited about the upcoming work with the Purple Pound Foundation and invite all interested professionals to join me in developing these essential standards.”

The Institute is confident that Damian’s extensive experience in disability advocacy, healthcare entrepreneurship and assistive technology will bring valuable insights and perspectives to the organisation. His appointment marks a significant milestone in the Institute’s ongoing efforts to promote inclusivity and excellence in event management.

Member benefits – new courses starting!

As an IEM Member you’re investing in your event management career and your professional body. In return, the IEM makes a commitment to invest in you.

Among our member benefits is access to three unique life and work skills programmes, at no extra cost to you. We have courses coming up and are taking bookings now: for more details email diane.earles@event-managers.institute.

The Purpose Programme is about finding your focus in life and work, brought to you by Dublin Conversations and facilitated by the intuitive and insightful Andy Green FRSA FCIPR.

The Health and Wellbeing Programme aims to keep you functioning at peak performance. Designed by Healthy Leaders, it will transform your thinking on stress, nutrition and culture.

Are you an event professional reading this who’s not a member of the IEM? Don’t these benefits sound like a great reason to join?

Image by jigsawstocker on Freepik