Collaboration and unity throughout the meetings and events industry shone through as over 1,400 event professionals, including over 300 in person at twelve venues nationwide, came together for UKickstart. The major industry event was initiated by Adam Simpson, Director of Marketing at etc.venues and supported by twelve industry associations, PSAV and Glisser.

Calum Di Lieto, Editor of C&IT, hosted the event and questioned the Parliament Under Secretary of State for Sport, Tourism & Heritage about the government's intentions for the business events industry.

Nigel Huddleston, said: "The events industry may have been undervalued in the past but that is not the case now; the industry has a real voice in government." Later he also recognised the professionalism of the industry and the safety procedures that venues have implemented when he commented that “The pilot events have shown that you know exactly how many people are coming in and venues are equipped to deal with new safety measures. The industry has done a great job on developing the guidance for reopening."