Sheffield could play host to more major events if plans are approved to develop a new city-wide events strategy.
Sheffield already has a reputation as a city of major events, festivals and conferences. The city has played host the Women’s Euros 2022 and the Rugby League World Cup, the 2024 MOBO Awards, and most recently, the third leg of the Tour of Britain. Sheffield was also shortlisted to host the 2023 Eurovision Song Contest in solidarity with Ukraine.
Alongside successfully bidding for some of the most high-profile and internationally significant events, Sheffield has its own home-grown festivals, from DocFest, which has been in the city for over 30 years, to Tramlines, one of the UK’s longest running, city-based music festivals. Sheffield is also home of Off the Shelf and No Bounds, which was recently described by the Guardian as ‘dizzingly daring’ and ‘impressive’.
Earlier this year, a brand-new podcast festival, Crossed Wires, was also launched in the city, attracting talent from across the UK and beyond, to Sheffield.
The city also has a strong track-record for bidding for and hosting a range of world-leading conferences, including the International Coeliac Disease Symposium and the British Association of Paediatric Surgeons.
Esther Britten, Deputy Director and Head of Events at UK Sport, said: “Sheffield has been a supportive partner and host to UK Sport funded major events over the last decade.
“Their commitment to not only staging the very best events but maximising their impact on the local community has enhanced the city’s reputation through the UK as a recognised host of the very best major international sporting events, we see them as a key host city looking into the future.”
A new proposal from Sheffield City Council to develop a city-wide major events strategy would seek to take things a step further – attracting more events to the city, better events and by creating a framework to ensure events hosted have a lasting, positive impact on local people, local businesses, communities and the Sheffield economy.
If given the go ahead, a new major events plan will be developed, aiming to provide a clearer ambition for events in the city and an action plan to transform Sheffield into a recognised destination for home-grown, curated, commissioned, and nomadic events.
Councillor Martin Smith, Chair of the Economic Development and Skills Committee at Sheffield City Council, said: “Events are big business, not just in Sheffield, but across the UK.
“Not only is the economic impact of events significant for the city, but events help us build our reputation and allow others to see and experience Sheffield on a different scale. Events bring people together, they celebrate our diversity and all of our local communities, helping to make Sheffield the vibrant place it is to live in and visit.
“Hosting more events, and more diverse events will help us attract more visitors to the city, generate more income, they will bring investment and help us to grow our economy.”
The idea behind the proposed plan is to create an approach that helps decision-makers identify the very best and most beneficial events for Sheffield and its people.
The plan would focus on ensuring events being held in the city are of a real benefit, with things like economic impact, community benefits and ensuring inclusivity and diversity always considered when bidding for and putting on events.
It will look to identify opportunities across sport, business and culture and find events that Sheffield is not only a good fit for, but that are also a good fit for Sheffield and the city’s ambitions.
Councillors will be asked to approve proposals to begin development of the Major Events Plan for Sheffield at an Economic Development and Skills Committee meeting on Thursday 31 October 2024.
If agreed, the first phase of development will involve engaging with experts in the field and local partners to help identify future opportunities for Sheffield.
This will be vital in ensuring the pipeline of events is right for the city and well positioned to attract wider investment.
