The Association of Event Venues (AEV) has renamed its MASA (multi-association security awareness) cross-association working group to the Event Sector Counter Terrorism Business Information Exchange (CTBIE).
The group will be referred to as Event Sector CTBIE, and operates as a subgroup of the National Counter-Terrorism Security Office (NaCTSO).
The Event Sector CTBIE represents stakeholders across the events industry and is intended to support the distribution of government guidance related to counter-terrorism measures and intelligence. It monitors information from agencies including NaCTSO and the Home Office, and shares updates with its members. The group also provides feedback to government through its participation in the NaCTSO CTBIE structure.
The group consists of fifteen senior representatives from industry associations. It meets quarterly, following attendance at national CTBIE meetings, to review developments and assess their impact on the events sector. It also issues sector-specific updates and guidance.
The CTBIE currently includes representatives from eight UK event industry organisations: AEV, the Association of Event Organisers (AEO), the Event Suppliers and Services Association (ESSA), the Association of Independent Festivals (AIF), the Association of Festival Organisers (AFO), the National Arenas Association (NAA), the National Outdoor Events Association (NOEA), the UK Wedding Association, and the UK Crowd Management Association (UKCMA).
Alden Arnold, AEV head of commercial and projects, said: “Aligning the name with other sector NaCTSO CTBIE groups strengthens credibility of the group and the work it does ensuring consistency in security approaches across the events industry.”
Henry Havis, NEC group security director, said: “This multi-association commitment plays a key role as a central channel for the timely sharing of consistent counter-terrorism information, evolving legislation, guidance, and security updates for the events industry. We hope to encourage additional association engagement and we look forward to more associations joining the group.”
