UK - The Schools Engagement Programme, launched in January 2024 in the East of England region by The Power of Events with grant support from the EIF, has announced that Edinburgh International Conference Centre (EICC) has been confirmed as exclusive sponsor of the Edinburgh region. This now takes the UK roll-out to five regions alongside recently confirmed new regions Birmingham, Hertfordshire and the South Coast of England.
EICC’s support will enable The Power of Events, in partnership with local event professionals volunteering as schools ambassadors, to deliver an event industry showcase and overview of career opportunities to secondary schools & colleges across the Edinburgh region, starting in Spring 2025.
The Schools Programme has already attracted 200+ school ambassador industry volunteers across the four Nations willing to support the programme when it lands in their region or city.
The other new regions already confirmed to launch in October are: Hertfordshire, sponsored by - Event Academy, Absolute Production Group, emc3, Smyle, weIMPLEMENT; South Coast (Portsmouth, Brighton, Eastbourne) – sponsored by Identity, asembl group; Birmingham – sponsored by NEC Group, DRPG, Neon Arena Services.
The EICC is joining these regional sponsors in supporting the programme to help foster widespread awareness and enthusiasm for a career in the events industry – these first five regions aim to visit over 250 schools engaging circa 40,000-60,000 young people, depending on the number of repeat school visits to multiple year groups.
The pilot programme enabled The Power of Events to refine a consistent and compelling message about career opportunities across the seven core sectors, increasing understanding of the UK events industry to 65% post-presentation from an initial 1% pre visit. Importantly, it also received positive feedback on the experience from teachers and the industry’s schools ambassadors.
Marshall Dallas, CEO of the EICC, commented, “We look forward to our partnership with The Power of Events team, the sponsorship of the Schools Engagement Programme, and the positive outcomes we can achieve together. For the past 10 years, the EICC has actively promoted careers in our dynamic industry through initiatives such as our student open days and by welcoming school groups to the EICC.
“This initiative is especially appealing as it will allow us to engage with young people across the city on a scale we’ve never reached before. We are also pleased to be making this announcement in September, as we begin preparations for our 30th year of operations. Throughout the year, we will be celebrating our impact on Scotland’s capital in various ways, and beginning with the aim of raising the aspirations of future talent feels like a fitting way to kick off this special milestone in the EICC’s history.”
Rick Stainton, founder of The Power of Events adds, "I'd like to thank the EICC for helping us to introduce the programme into Scotland and realising our ambition to ensure the roll-out is inclusive across the Four Nations - the team can’t wait to work closely with the EICC team and its peer network of event professionals volunteering as Schools Ambassadors, to inspire young people across the Edinburgh region to consider the Events Industry as a career.”
