Business media group Capital Business Media (CBM) has announced the launch of a global events division as it looks to help bring business people back together.

Headed up by group managing director Richard Alvin, the new division will offer event and awards management services, in addition to managing its own events and awards.

The group, which owns and publishes a series of titles such as Business Matters and EV-powered, has already signed event management deals with clients such as Aston Martin Lagonda and the Infiniti Motor Company.

It hopes to welcome more flagship clients to its portfolio as confidence in socialising begins to return and restrictions are lifted.

For the past 18 months, face to face events have been limited due to the pandemic, but Richard is looking to use his experience in hosting prestigious events and awards evenings to help companies reintroduce their event line-ups.

“The industry as a whole has suffered massively due to the restrictions needing to be in place to prevent the spread of coronavirus, but we now want to support businesses with the safe return of face-to-face events following the successful vaccination roll out”, he said.

“Having previously run events such as the National Business Awards and the Logistics Awards for Informa PLC, the team and I have extensive experience and can help firms with the correct management and promotion of their events.

“As we head into 2022, we will also be launching our own prestigious events, including a new awards programme taking place on March 23^rd; 2 years to the day that Boris Johnson imposed the national lockdown,” he added.

Capital Business Media will kickstart their own events programme with the Business Champion Awards, a replacement for Informa PLC’s National Business Awards.

Aiming to be one of the largest annual awards programmes in the UK, the evening will include a lavish gala dinner hosted by Huw Edwards, where businesses from across the nation will be recognised for their pandemic efforts and success.

Ahead of the launch in July, the group has teamed up with publishing and sales consultancy 360Publishing Ltd to develop the commercial opportunity for awards partners.

Mike Allen, MD at 360 Publishing said: “More than any other, now is the time for business to celebrate the entrepreneurs, new businesses, the sustainable and diverse and everything that is good about British Business. The Business Champion awards allows brands to align with excellence, innovation and success offering enormous marketing, branding, networking and sponsorship. We are delighted to be involved.”

Richard Alvin added: “It’s a logical step given the dominance of our Business Matters brand to work with Mike Allen’s team at 360Publishing and create a perfect synergy to secure sponsorship at the highest level.”

Details on the Business Champion Awards will be released in the coming weeks.