The party conferences are the highlight of the political calendar but for businesses attending them they can be expensive. In this blog we look at the costs and benefits of attending and what options businesses have if they wish to influence the parties.
With ‘business day’ tickets for the Conservative conference in Birmingham on 30 September selling for £3500 and the party having recently lost the election, attendance at this year’s business event is reported to be low. However, this will not only be bad for the party but also for the city which in the past has seen a significant economic boost from the extra footfall and spending associated with hosting the event. While party conferences remain the high point in the annual political calendar, many businesses are now asking whether attending them provides value for money.
In the past the annual Conservative gathering, due to be held from 29 September to 2 October at the International Convention Centre in Birmingham, has attracted large corporates willing to pay tens of thousands of pounds to have a stand, host events and get close to MPs with influence over policy. However, with the party out of power, the number of business bookings at this year’s Conference is understood to have declined significantly, an outcome that could also undermine the party’s ability to raise funds. ‘The challenge for the Conservatives will be ensuring that September marks the beginning of the journey towards re-establishing their credentials as ‘the party of business'' said Katherine Morgan, head of public affairs for Europe at the global advisory group DGA.
In contrast the Labour conference in Liverpool, which runs from 22-25 September, is expected to attract businesses in large numbers and their ‘business day’ is already sold out. This will take place on Monday 23 September 2024, the day discussing Labour’s mission to secure the highest sustained growth in the G7 which they can only achieve by working with business. The Liberal Democrats have also benefitted from businesses turning away from the Conservative conference and are likely to see an increase in the number attending their conference this year which will take place from 14-17 September in Brighton.
"Whether or not it is worth attending any of the party conferences depends to a large extent on the type of business you are and whether access to MPs or government will be useful for you. Most businesses attending the party conferences are large corporates who have big contracts with government or businesses which are controlled or regulated by them" says Dr Steven McCabe, former Associate Professor at BCU and Senior Fellow at BCU's Centre for Brexit Studies, now an online consultant leading DoctorateHub. "You don't have to book a business day ticket or a stand to have a presence at the party conferences but instead can attend as an individual and use the opportunity to network and attend events. This makes it a much more cost-effective option."
BCU’s Centre for Brexit Studies is a research centre which explores all aspects of the Brexit Referendum and life beyond the European Union.