Regional Events Industry Engagement Workshop - Aberdeen City & Shire

VisitScotland is the government funded national agency for tourism and events. It is committed to supporting the events sector by providing a wide range of free to access business support opportunities that respond to the priorities outlined in the National Events Strategy, Scotland The Perfect Stage 2024 - 2035. 

As part of this programme of support, we are pleased to be working with Local Authorities and other key industry partners to deliver a series of in-person Regional Event Industry Engagement Workshops across the country from October 2026 to March 2027. These workshops provide an important opportunity for local industry representatives to hear updates from key sector partners, plus share good practice and feedback on their experience of event development and delivery in the area.

There is no charge to attend this workshop, but registration in advance is required. Further information and final details will then be emailed directly to registered attendees.

Date and venue:
Maritime Museum, Aberdeen, Tuesday 27 October 2026, 10am-12:30pm

Indicative workshop timings & format (a more detailed agenda will follow to those who register):

• 09:30 – 10:00
  Arrival, networking and refreshments
• 10:00 – 11:15
  Session 1 – Progress update from VisitScotland:
  • The National Events Strategy, Scotland The Perfect Stage 2024-2035, and associated Action Plan - Torquil Macleod, Senior Manager - Industry Engagement and Development
  • Regional Destination Development update: David Jackson, Regional Director - Aberdeen
• 11:15 – 11:30
  Mid-morning break and refreshments
• 11:30 – 12:00
  Session 2 – Presentation of key regional priorities:
  • Mark Bremner, Interim Service Manager, Culture, Events and Tourism, Aberdeen City Council
  • Danielle McKinlay, Invest Aberdeen, Aberdeenshire Council 
• 12:00 – 12.30
  Session 3 – Local industry partner case studies and discussion: 
  • Rob Wicks, Managing Director, P&J Live
  • Sharon Burgess, CEO, Aberdeen Performing Arts 
• 12:30 – 13:30
  Lunch, networking and depart

Please create a new user account if you are registering for the first time, or login to your existing account if you already have login credentials for VisitScotland's Events Industry Development Programme.

By attending the workshop you acknowledge that photographs and filming may take place at the event. VisitScotland reserves the right to use images and videos recorded at the event with your photograph and/or likeness in future marketing materials, including social media channels, websites, and print material, without obtaining any further approval from you or making any payment to you. If you do not wish your photograph to be taken at an workshop, then please notify the photographer during the event and we will use reasonable endeavours to comply with your request.

These Terms and Conditions set out the terms and conditions by which VisitScotland provides an event platform.  

•    You are giving your personal data to VisitScotland as the data controller for the purpose of attending an Industry Engagement Event. 
 
•    You are being asked to provide your name, email address, organisation name and job role where applicable.
 
•    VisitScotland will use your name and email address to follow up with you after the event itself. 
 
•    If you do not provide the information requested we may not be able to fully administer your attendance at the event. 
 
•    Your personal data will be processed on our behalf by EventsAir and Microsoft, both are contracted data processors to VisitScotland as the controller.  
 
•    Your personal data will be held on these systems for one year and will then be securely deleted. 
 
•    The lawful reason for processing your information is that it is part of the official authority vested in VisitScotland as the controller.  If you provide information about your dietary or access requirements, you will be asked to provide explicit consent to allow us to use it in the manner described above.  
 
•    Your personal data will be processed in the UK and EEA.  
 
•    You have rights with regard to how your personal data is used, including the right to complain to the regulator (the ICO in the UK).  For full information about your rights and how to complain, visit our privacy policy page:  Privacy Policy - About Us | VisitScotland.org.