The signage, including banners and boards displaying the #WeMakeEvents ‘Red Alert’ logo, was held by protestors at the Leeds event yesterday (11 August). The march, which was organised by people who work within the events industry, also took place in cities including London, Manchester, Glasgow and Belfast yesterday.
#WeMakeEvents aims to draw public attention to the plight currently being suffered by tens of thousands of UK events industry workers, who have not received the same level of government support as other sectors.
Northern Flags managing director Iain Clasper-Cotte said: “We have decades' worth of experience working with the events industry. Some of those relationships are so well established, they have developed from clients into friends.
“That’s why it was so important for us to contribute to our local march. We’re proud to play our small part in this important fight. Vital for the events industry and also important for us too.”
Other activities that took place as part of the day included a silent march in Manchester, while more than 300 iconic venues were lit up red in support of the cause, including Royal Festival Hall, Wembley Arena and The Mac in Belfast.
“The live events industry supply chain that contributes to every single event in the UK is set to completely collapse,” said Peter Heath, managing director of events industry association PLASA.
“Social distancing prohibits mass events, and even if this stopped now, long-term planning for events won’t enable a return until around March 2021.
“Now the whole industry is coming together to initiate a Red Alert. We have been campaigning for financial support from the government using #WeMakeEvents because the sector is on its last legs.”
