NOWIE expands research on experiences of women in the events industry

NOWIE launches second survey following finding that 1 in 4 women in £60bn events industry reported sexual assault last year.

The Network of Women in Events CIC (NOWIE) has announced the launch of the second edition of the NOWIE Big Survey- a major UK-wide research project examining the experiences of women working across the events, live entertainment, music and festival industries. 

The initiative comes at a time when the sector represents a £60 billion UK industry, spanning weddings, conferences, exhibitions, corporate events, festivals, and large-scale mega events, underscoring the scale and economic importance of the workforce being studied.

Following stark findings from its inaugural survey, NOWIE is significantly expanding the scale of the research in 2026, with a target of more than 1,000 respondents, making it one of the largest datasets of its kind focused on women’s safety and workplace culture within the industry.

The previous survey highlighted concerning levels of harm within the sector, with approximately 1 in 4 women reporting having experienced sexual assault linked to their work in events. It also exposed widespread issues around under-reporting, with respondents describing significant barriers to speaking up, including freelance and precarious employment conditions, fears of losing future work, and concerns about professional repercussions. 

Alongside this, many participants pointed to a lack of accountability mechanisms and inconsistent reporting pathways, contributing to a broader culture where incidents often go unreported or are not formally addressed.

The 2026 survey will explore:

• Sexual harassment and assault

• Reporting procedures and barriers

• Employer accountability

• Safeguarding standards

• Freelance and touring vulnerabilities

• Career progression and retention

• Workplace culture across live events and entertainment

NOWIE says the aim is not only to document the scale of the issue, but to drive tangible reform across the sector.

“This research is about turning lived experiences into action,” said Cat Kevern, Managing Director of NOWIE. 

“The events industry is an incredible space to work in, but the findings from our previous survey made it clear that too many women are still navigating unsafe environments, inconsistent reporting structures and a lack of accountability. We believe meaningful change starts with robust data, honest conversations and industry-wide responsibility.”

The organisation is also aligning the project with wider national Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) recommendations and has begun engaging with politicians and policymakers, with the aim of bringing findings and recommendations into parliamentary discussions later this year.

Jo Platt MP will be supporting the NOWIE Big Survey 2026, endorsing its aim to strengthen the evidence base on workplace safety and to help drive improved protections and reporting practices across the events industry.

Speaking about the initiative, she said“This research shines a vital light on the lived experiences of women working across the events industry, an essential but often under-recognised part of the UK economy. The findings underline the urgent need for stronger safeguarding, clearer reporting routes, and a culture where people feel safe to speak up without fear of damaging their careers.

Initiatives like the NOWIE Big Survey are crucial in driving the evidence base needed to support meaningful, lasting change across the sector.”

The survey will run from June 17th to August 2026, with full findings and recommendations published in September.

NOWIE is currently inviting industry organisations, media partners, employers, venues, agencies and stakeholders to support and amplify the initiative in order to maximise participation and help create a more representative picture of women’s experiences across the sector.

Special thanks to our partners:

Ask for Angela

Chloe Richardson

MEI

Trivandi

Tysers

ResponSec

The Purple Guide

ENDS

Notes to Editors:

About NOWIE

NOWIE (The Network of Women in Events CIC) is a UK-based community and advocacy platform working to improve safety, equity and inclusion across the events, live entertainment and music industries. Through research, community building, partnerships and policy engagement, NOWIE works to drive meaningful change for women working across all areas of the sector.

About The Big Survey 

In 2025, NOWIE launched the Big Survey – the UK’s largest study into the experiences of women working in the events industry. The project received over 600 responses, creating the most comprehensive dataset documenting women’s experiences in events and the issues that have defined their careers. 

Now, we’re back for more. We’re putting the BIG in Big Survey!

We are currently developing the second edition of the Big Survey in collaboration with industry leaders, subject matter experts and advocates across the sector. We have a particular focus on safety, inclusion, and workplace culture, and have aligned the survey with national conversations on Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) and on how our industry can drive meaningful change. 

The Big Survey won’t just be another report that gathers dust. We already have political backing secured and a launch event at Parliament locked in. Our confirmed panel members include: Sylvia Oates (Ask for Angela), Katie Hodson (First Option Safety), and Emma Abson (Trivandi).

Our goal this year is simple, but ambitious: we want to reach more women, gather richer data, and translate our findings into real action.

For media enquiries, interviews or partnership opportunities, please contact Lucy@electriccat.co or hello@wearenowie.org