National events strategy 2024 to 2035: fairer Scotland duty summary

Summary of aims and expected outcomes of strategy, proposal, programme or policy

Given its long-term nature and wide-ranging scope, the National Events Strategy 2024-2035 has the potential to affect all the people of Scotland. In view of this it was decided at the outset that a Fairer Scotland Duty Assessment was required as part of the strategy review.

The Vision of the National Events Strategy 2024-2035 is that Scotland is the Perfect Stage for Events. The potential of the strategy to contribute to a Fairer Scotland as part of being the perfect stage for events is considered in this assessment.

The Mission of the refreshed strategy is to sustain and develop, through a Team Scotland approach, a dynamic, resilient, and responsible events sector that is recognised as a global leader and valued for its contribution to Scotland's wellbeing economy. It will achieve this through the delivery of a world-class, diverse, and inclusive portfolio of cultural, sport and business events – for participants, workforce, communities, and visitors.

The refreshed strategy has the potential to positively impact on all the National Outcomes set out in the National Performance Framework.^[1] However, there are particular opportunities around national outcomes focusing on: economy, fair work and business, international, communities, culture and environment.

The refreshed strategy is advisory and places no new statutory obligation on any party – whether public, private or third sector. It does seek to take account of the existing statutory and policy environment.

There are a range of agencies with a critical part to play in supporting the delivery of the refreshed strategy. These are set out at Appendix 1 of the strategy. A Collaborative “Team Scotland” approach between these agencies is vital to maximise the impacts of the strategy.

How events collectively – and the sector as a whole – are performing on the five outcome statements identified for the strategy will be monitored. This will be done via a set of indicators. These focus on Economy, Community, Environment, Workforce and Reputation/Profile. These broadly align to the four capitals of a wellbeing economy (plus reputation/profile).^[2]

While development of a set of high-level measures that covers all five outcomes will be part of implementation, the strategy does set out a series of provisional measures as the beginning of that process. In terms of measuring event impacts related to a Fairer Scotland. These include:

• Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings: Proportion of event industry.^[3] employees (18+) earning less than the Real Living Wage in Scotland.
• Annual Population Survey: Demographics of the events industry^[4] workforce in Scotland.
• Attendance at a cultural event in the last 12 months.^[5]

Following finalisation of the National Events Strategy 2025-2035 it will be available alongside accompanying impact assessments.