93% of event organisers would consider the CSR benefits of a venue ‘important’ or ‘sometimes important’ when considering the location for a meeting or event, according to research carried out by Lime Venue Portfolio.
Representing a diverse collection of unusual sporting and cultural venues across the UK and Ireland, the study was conducted at Lime Venue Portfolio’s recent showcase event at ExCel during International Confex. 129 corporate meetings and events professionals were surveyed to explore how company policies and personal preferences affect the procurement and booking of venues.
Whilst only 77% of the companies represented at the showcase had official CSR policies in place, 84% of the corporate meetings and events planners surveyed claimed they consider the social impact of their events throughout the planning process. The importance of considering how the procurement of a service may improve the economic, social and environmental well-being of an area has been further highlighted to companies since the introduction of the Social Value Act earlier this year.
With just 8% of respondents saying they would not be more likely to book a venue which offered CSR benefits, Lime Venue Portfolio is highlighting how money automatically goes back into sustaining and running its roster of 98 sporting and cultural venues, as well as conservation, animal welfare, education and grass roots sporting initiatives.
Most of Lime Venue Portfolio’s sporting venues engage in CSR activities; Kennington’s Kia Oval, for example, partners with the Prince’s Trust to do widespread work in the local community, including a 12-week project using the spirit of cricket to help change young lives, whilst the Imperial War Museum North raises over half of its operating budget from fundraising and commercial activities including meetings and events. Meetings and events booked at Edinburgh Zoo help support the ever-increasing need to maintain populations of threatened species across zoos around the globe.
Jo Austin, head of sales at Lime Venue Portfolio, commented: “The contribution a venue makes to the local area and community is not always at the top of the agenda for event planners (price, location and value for money being the three main factors). However, these survey results show this is undoubtedly a really important area for consideration, and we want to raise awareness of the CSR benefits when booking with a Lime Venue Portfolio venue.”
