Forum Events at 30: Celebrating Founder Paul Rowney’s Vision and Legacy
As Forum Events celebrates its 30th anniversary, the company proudly reflects on the entrepreneurial vision of its founder, Paul Rowney, whose determination and belief in a new way of doing business laid the foundations for one of the UK’s leading hosted-buyer event organization’s.
Founded in 1996 by Paul Rowney alongside Gill and Nikki, Forum Events was built on an innovative concept that challenged the traditional exhibition model. While the idea was met with skepticism in its early days—including one bank manager famously declaring that it “would never work”—Paul remained steadfast in his belief that bringing buyers and suppliers together through pre-arranged meetings would transform business networking.
That same year, Forum Events launched its first website and began its journey in what would become a highly competitive events industry.
The company’s first event took place at Belton Woods Hotel in Grantham under far from ideal circumstances. Shortly before the event, Paul suffered a broken leg and was unable to attend, while a snowstorm created further challenges. Yet the event proved the strength of the concept and marked the start of a model that would go on to deliver thousands of business connections across multiple sectors.
As the business developed, Forum Events launched landmark events including the Direct Marketing Summit and the FM Forum, helping establish the company as a pioneer of the hosted-buyer format.
During the late 1990s, Paul also experimented with international forums in destinations such as Portugal, Malta and Switzerland. While these events helped raise the company’s profile and create memorable experiences, they ultimately reinforced an important lesson—that the quality of the business meetings themselves was the real attraction for delegates and suppliers alike.
Known for his hands-on leadership style, boundless energy and strong work ethic, Paul fostered a culture of resilience, positivity and action. His practical approach and determination encouraged teams to remain focused on delivering results, while his personality and sense of humor helped create the unique culture that still exists within the business today.
A significant milestone came when Paul fulfilled his ambition to expand internationally, launching operations in the United States and further enhancing Forum Events’ reputation as an innovator in the events sector.
Although Paul eventually retired while living in the US, his connection to Forum Events remains strong, and his influence continues to be felt throughout the company.
Reflecting on Forum Events’ 30-year journey, Paul said:
“Now 30 years later, Forum Events and Media is still going strong despite our bank manager’s assertion in 1996 that it ‘would never work’. It did, and for the record, we never had to borrow money, have an overdraft or fail to pay a bill. To see my idea from 1996 still thriving three decades later, surviving recessions, pandemics and the ups and downs of a volatile industry is a source of great pride. I could never have imagined it would still be around many years after my retirement. My congratulations and thanks go to everyone who helped make it a success and who continue to maintain its position as a market-leading business.”
As Forum Events marks three decades of connecting buyers and suppliers, Paul Rowney’s vision, perseverance and entrepreneurial spirit remain at the heart of the company’s success story. His belief in the concept, even when others doubted it, helped create a business that continues to thrive 30 years on.
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Learn more: www.forumevents.co.uk
