Legacy Tool Kit

If you've ever attended an event that left a lasting impression on you, you'll know the power of event legacy. 

But for those who don’t know, you may wonder, what exactly is an event's legacy? And why is it important? In this blog, we'll answer these questions and more as we dive into everything you need to know about creating a legacy for an event. 

Whether you're planning an event or simply interested in learning more about this important concept, we've got you covered. 

Read on to learn more about event legacy and how to create it…

Naturally, all organisations aspire to make a lasting impact on their attendees and create a memorable event or congress. Think of event legacy as exactly that.

Event Legacy is the long-lasting value created by an event—benefits that extend far beyond the event itself. It's the positive mark your event leaves on the host city, its people, and even wider society.

• Legacy = Actions during your event that leave a lasting, positive footprint
• Impact = The long-term, cumulative change resulting from those actions

Examples of Legacy Outcomes:

• New policies inspired by shared knowledge
• Innovations sparked through collaboration
• Community support that addresses local needs

Legacy at the Royal Armouries

At the Royal Armouries, we believe every event has the power to create change. Through community partnerships, education, and social responsibility, we’re proud to support a range of initiatives that deliver meaningful impact.

There are so many reasons why event legacy is beneficial, and various types of event legacy exist. We’ll explain in more detail below. 

Firstly, as we mentioned earlier, event legacy has the power to create a lasting impact beyond the event itself, particularly from a social, economic and environmental perspective. This means an event can continue to benefit those who attended and the wider community long after it ends. 

Plus, event legacy holds tremendous potential to positively impact local communities in various ways, whether through social outreach, education, or regeneration efforts. By considering the long-term impact of events, it’s possible to create a lasting legacy that benefits attendees as well as the surrounding community.

Secondly, if your event has a positive, lasting impact, it can build a positive brand reputation and even increase valuable awareness of the event or organisation that hosted it. 

Thirdly, it can be a significant driver of economic growth, particularly in the case of large-scale events that attract tourism and generate revenue for local businesses. 

We’ll take a large-scale event as the basis for an example, although an event doesn’t have to be large to attain a legacy! However, when an event attracts a significant number of visitors, it can have both a direct and indirect effect on the local economy, especially when it comes to local businesses. 

Legacy simply refers to the long-term effects that events and congresses aim to create, which can positively impact the city region and stakeholders. 

It's about understanding how event activities in Leeds can become more than just the consumption of services but, instead, a project or programme that aligns with the mission and purpose of our city. By creating something more meaningful for the community, we can ensure that Leeds continues to thrive, placing our city on the map to be a desirable and impactful destination for all types of events.

It’s no secret that the events industry has become a crucial platform for promoting a positive impact and education, so more associations, businesses, and tradeshows are adopting new models and approaches to live events. 

Collaboration, engagement, sustainability, and legacy are now at the forefront of business events planning, and, for us, Leeds must be a leader in this movement. Event organisers across all industries are now partnering with destinations and venues to include legacy objectives in their request for proposal (RFP), recognising the importance of their long-term positive impact.

Organisations are now seeking locations that can demonstrate the functional elements of an event or congress and how they can engage local networks to create meaningful change. For us, embracing this new landscape is in the best interest of everyone, helping to bring a beneficial impact to the region that we call home! 

So, we’re trying to say that it’s so much more than just the immediate impacts that events can bring to Leeds. It’s a deeper understanding of how the industry can bring value to the community, which will feel its effects long after the event. 

The beauty is that there’s no limitation to what type of event can achieve a positive legacy. In fact, just about any type of event can do it as long as it is planned and executed with the right mindset and key objectives. 

All you’ll need to do is shift your focus to how you can leave a truly lasting impression on attendees, the location and the wider community. What are some examples of this? See below: 

A cultural event could positively impact and encourage diversity and inclusion by engaging hard-to-reach communities and working to remove barriers to their attendance.
An organisation trying to boost awareness for a cause could unite those impacted by opening up its educational content to the public. 
A corporate event could use its event to promote sustainability practices, paving the way for others to make necessary changes. 
A tradeshow could open up the space for networking opportunities, allowing people to share knowledge and gain lasting connections.

To summarise the above, any event, regardless of the industry, can leave a significant legacy for everyone involved. With the right support and a well-structured strategy, organisers can deliver an unforgettable event that promotes social, environmental, and economic sustainability, fosters community involvement, and generates long-lasting effects.

Creating a strong, long-lasting event legacy requires a thoughtful and strategic approach considering the potential impact and outcomes that can extend beyond the immediate event. In other words, no stone left unturned! 

So, when planning an impactful event, it’s important to think beyond just the day (or days!) that it will take place. Below, we’ve included information on some important aspects that can help create a strong event legacy. 

Always aim to create a unique and memorable experience

In order for an event to have a lasting impact, it needs to be memorable. 

This means going beyond the standard agenda and creating an experience visitors will always remember. Deliver on all of your promises, and live up to expectations that were set to encourage attendees to take the time to come to your event. 

Whether that’s by hosting at a first-class venue with incredible facilities, ensuring all elements of your event are inclusive, coming up with a creative theme or making sure that you’ve thought of everything concerning how to make their visit worthwhile, your attendees will be much more likely to share their positive experience with others if they feel as though your event brought value. Never underestimate the power of word of mouth! 

Get the whole community involved

Events that involve the local community are more likely to have a lasting impact. After all, not only are you bringing more value to your event, but you’ll also be forming lasting relationships with these communities. 

This could mean partnering with local businesses, ensuring that you’ve incorporated local culture and traditions, or even creating employment by attracting members of the local community to help run your event. 

When the local community feels invested in an event, they are more likely to talk about it and promote it to others, which can help spread awareness and create a stronger event legacy.

Awareness is key

Creating a buzz around what you’re bringing to life is essential! 

Event organisers can reach a wider audience and generate more interest by utilising the resources available to them, such as social media and other marketing channels. Positioning your event as a memorable experience that’s not to be missed will likely enhance the potential of your effectiveness, increasing the chances of leaving a lasting impression. 

Inspire your audience

For event legacy to be achieved, focus on how inspiring the experience is for those attending. Are they there to further their knowledge on a particular subject? Or, is the purpose of your event to entertain or maybe bring people together for a specific purpose? 

We encourage you to delve deeper into what your event can offer those who plan to attend. For example, you might incorporate interactive experiences for your audience or plan to host at a venue that can offer innovative technology, allowing you to bring your event to life at a whole new level. You may even schedule relevant, expert guest speakers who will leave a lasting impression on your attendees. 

Incorporate sustainability

Whilst legacy and sustainability are their own distinct areas, ensuring your event is as green as possible should still be a huge consideration when wanting to achieve an event legacy. The events industry plays a crucial role in promoting and encouraging the adoption of positive behaviours, operational practices, and policies. 

So, as the world becomes more aware of the impact of events on the environment, it’s important to do your best, focusing on sustainability and responsible practices. 

There are many ways in which an event can improve its sustainability efforts. This could include (but is not limited to) ensuring that where you choose to host your event aligns with your environmental values, reducing waste where possible, and ensuring catering arrangements are sourced either locally or from sustainable suppliers. 

By focusing on sustainability, event organisers can reduce their environmental impact, create a positive legacy, and set an example for others to follow. 

By incorporating these essential factors into event legacy planning, organisers have a better chance of creating a strong, impactful experience that benefits everyone involved, opening up the potential to inspire other event organisers to do the same.