"The challenges and special features of French-speaking Switzerland must be heard at a national level," emphasizes Tania Cullen, board member of the Swiss LiveCom Association. The region represents a quarter of Switzerland and brings particular added value to the industry with its cultural diversity and specific needs. "Our integration into the national structure of the association is crucial for our voice to be heard in the Swiss LiveCom sector," Cullen continues.
The increased representation of French-speaking Switzerland should contribute to the goal of bringing all regions of Switzerland together in order to be an effective advocate for the industry. According to the Swiss LiveCom Association, a united nationwide network promotes continuous exchange and the joint development of solutions for current and future challenges.
Further training and development
The association is also actively involved in the further training and development of the event industry. Members in French-speaking Switzerland have exclusive access to comprehensive studies, benchmark analyses, sustainability tools, discounts, specialist conferences and numerous further education and training opportunities. "We help our members to be successful in the market through continuous training and access to essential industry knowledge," explains Cullen. In addition, the association represents the interests of the Swiss event industry at a political level in order to ensure economically favorable conditions for the industry.
First event planned in French-speaking Switzerland
In order to promote networking and thus collaboration, the Swiss LiveCom Association is already planning its first events in French-speaking Switzerland for 2025: "We are inviting the entire event industry in French-speaking Switzerland as well as our German and Italian-speaking colleagues to join forces in order to master the challenges of the industry together, develop it further and strengthen our connections," says Cullen.
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In January 2023, the first CAS Live Experience and Event Design (CAS LEED). The continuing education program is "the response of Expo Event Swiss Livecom Association and the Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts (HSLU) to the major changes in the livecom industry," Expo Event announced. This is because topics such as digitalization, pandemics and a shortage of skilled workers are changing the social, economic and technological conditions in the event and exhibition industry. The new event will serve as a tool to prepare people working in these sectors for the changes.
In a total of seven specialized modules, each lasting two to three days, students learn everything about the broad craft of the livecom industry. In contrast to the already existing CAS Event Management, the CAS LEED goes deeper into the planning and implementation of sustainable live campaigns and the creation of event designs. The HSLU has teamed up with various experts from the industry to deliver this practice-oriented continuing education program. Well-known names such as Matthias Kindler (consultant for LiveCom), Andrea Hummler (Mint Consulting) or Iwan Funk (Bellprat) will share their knowledge.
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At present, the live communications industry is facing tasks the likes of which society has not had to cope with for a long time. As the industry association writes, the entire situation surrounding the corona virus is already "running completely and at breakneck speed out of control" and no one has any idea how much worse it will get.
Expo Event Swiss LiveCom Association launched a survey among its 160 active member companies. The following figures emerged:
- Job cuts of 30% are expected by the end of April if no financial assistance is available by then.
- The effective liquidity protection of the companies varies completely by nature, but is on average between one and a maximum of three months.
- The first layoffs have already had to be announced, although this is the absolute last measure and brutal emergency solution for all companies.
- 96% of the members surveyed have already had to apply for short-time work.
- The foregone gross sales since February 28, 2020 amount to approximately 260 million Swiss francs.
- The gross sales loss expected by the end of May 2020 is approximately 450 million Swiss francs.
In this context, the association welcomes the measure announced on Wednesday by the Federal Council of the legal standstill in the debt collection system from Thursday until and including April 4, 2020, the effect of which, however, is more of a psychological nature. Also welcomed are the 10 billion francs made available for short-time work and bridging loans.
The main demands of the industry association, however, are quick and unbureaucratic measures, which is why it proposes a few concrete ones:
- A retroactive application of the short-time compensation, so that also the up to now accrued
- loss can be claimed.
- Suspension of federal taxes, value-added taxes, and cantonal and municipal taxes without interest on arrears run for the companies.
- Special regulation or suspension of payment of contributions for social insurances / family allowances without negative consequences for the companies.
- Immediate expansion of the scope of application for short-time work to include fixed-term contracts, temporary employment relationships, business owners, apprentices, persons caring for their children at home due to school closures, and employees' spouses
Expo Event Swiss LiveCom Association will again present these demands and the comprehensive factual situation to the federal government.