National events strategy 2024 to 2035: equality impact assessment

Recommendation and conclusions

Through the process of data gathering and stakeholder engagement the Scottish Government has not identified any negative impacts on any of the protected characteristics as a result of putting in place the National Events Strategy 2024-2035. Encouragingly, events of all sizes provide a growing opportunity to enhance equality, diversity and inclusion both for their audiences, performers, competitors and other participants, and for event organisers, businesses and their workforce.

Building on VisitScotland’s successful inclusive tourism project,^[20] there is a particular opportunity for the National Events Strategy 2025-2035 to boost accessibility of Scotland’s events for disabled and older people. The evidence suggests that physical access is the greatest barrier to inclusion in events across all the protected characteristics. It also highlights the importance of promoting information on the journey and access to the event itself well in advance of event time –. VisitScotland’s website provides more information on the benefits for event organisers of engaging further in accessible tourism^[21] and how events can create their own access guides.

In addition to accessibility, there is also an opportunity for the National Events Strategy to boost the cultural diversity of Scotland’s events with a focus on multi-cultural and LGBTI communities. Scotland’s Year of Stories in particular is an example of the development of a culturally diverse and highly successful events programme, with the 2018 Year of Young people providing a platform to build on to ensure young people are a key part of the event journey.

In addition to disabled and older people (accessibility), the multi-cultural and LGBTI communities (cultural diversity) and young people (building on the 2018 Year of Young People), events can also boost wellbeing, community inclusion and pride. There are also potential opportunities for people with other protected characteristics and in terms of intersectionality. A diverse and inclusive workforce is also key to the success of the events sector as a whole and aspects like Fair Work practices and addressing the gender pay gap help make these ambitions real.

Building on the key findings set out above, the refreshed National Events Strategy 2024-2035 highlights inclusive events as a priority theme. The strategy also highlights that actions for this theme might include:

• “Ensure the many and diverse cultures and traditions of all of Scotland’s people, including New Scots^[22], are reflected across our events portfolio, in recognition of the transformative and empowering role of events in building inclusive, supportive communities.” This picks up on key findings including: the importance of the welcome; ensuring events are culturally diverse and showcase the unique cultures and traditions of Scotland’s multi-cultural communities; and the views of respondents to the public consultation on what was important for them in creating an excellent event experience.
• “Encourage and support communities and other groups to get involved in events via Third Sector Interfaces^[23] and other local and national bodies.” This picks up on public consultation finding that the events sector contributing to enhancing well-being and community engagement was considered to be the joint most important strategic priority.
• “Promote the importance of Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion to the sector, providing up to date guidance on and how to deliver inclusive events.” This picks up on the finding from the public consultation that the second most prevalent theme around strategic priorities was on the strategy including a greater focus on equalities, diversity and inclusion.

To ensure focus and accountability, it is envisaged a detailed action plan will be created for the refreshed strategy that will be developed and overseen by the Events Industry Advisory Group, together with partners. This group would agree measures and regularly monitor progress including actions to boost equality.

Implementation of the strategy may result in the need for further bespoke Equality Impact Assessments for some actions. These assessments will be taken forward by the lead organisation, as appropriate.

Sign off:

Name: Rachael McKechnie

Job title: Deputy Director, Major Events, Scottish Government