Last week something amazing happened in Birmingham. Ten people, none of whom were related to one another and none of whom shared a house, met in a room in an office block on Colmore Row. They took their masks off. They shared a long conversation and then walked 10 or 12 metres to another room, where they had some nice sandwiches and a glass or two of beer. It was remarkably normal and, as a result, completely extraordinary. Just real, live people, all a bit dazed by the experience, and all of whom had panicked about the dress code. Fifteen months into the coronavirus pandemic, something as simple as a business roundtable event now feels giddy and exotic. 
The evidence, limited though it is, suggests substantial pent-up demand for business events more or less exactly like those people were enjoying pre-pandemic.As the UK economy unlocks and the return to work begins, many more businesses will be seeking to host events as they reach…  Read the full story here. | 
