A view from the top

We had an outstanding year in 2024.

And behind the numbers lie creativity, innovation and smart thinking from thousands of people. From a 3,000ft high brand relaunch to AI-driven marketing campaigns and developing our 2025-2028 One Informa programme, it all adds up to an exciting year.

Read transcript

Summarise Informa’s Annual Report 2024.

It has been an outstanding year for Informa, and the Board and I are delighted with the way the company continues to deliver for customers, colleagues and shareholders.

John Rishton Chair

Chair’s introduction Download PDF – 240kB

2024 was one of the best years – if not the best year – Informa has had so far. Informa moved into a faster growth lane in 2024.

Stephen A. Carter Group Chief Executive

Group Chief Executive’s Review Download PDF – 398kB

Informa
Festivals

Access all areas

If you think you know festivals, think again.

Festivals are one of the newest parts of the B2B events market: events that inspire and celebrate business by delivering unmissable experiences.

We have incredible examples within Informa. And after welcoming Cannes Lions and Money20/20 to the company in 2024, we’ve created a new business focused on this: Informa Festivals.

Why has Informa created a division focused on B2B festivals?

What makes a
festival?

1 – Inspirational content

A global platform for discussions, insights and thought leadership you won’t find anywhere else

2 – Destination for innovation

A place to showcase and discover ground-breaking developments

3 – Powerful connections

An event where transformative connections are waiting around every corner

4 – Immersive experiences

A range of engaging distinctive activities and live experiences

5 – Industry celebration

The place to discover – and celebrate – the best of the best

6 – Professional growth

The chance to learn from experts, accelerate careers and find the next generation of talent

7 – A city unlocked

An event that takes place across venues and spaces and brings its host city to life

All the world’s a festival

Cannes Lions is a stand-out example of an experience-led event – an essential annual B2B festival for the marketing and advertising world.

Informa
TechTarget

Meet Informa TechTarget

Over the course of 2024, we created a new business in the digital services market.

Read transcript

Why did Informa and TechTarget join forces – and what does it mean for the enterprise IT sector?

Take the quiz

How many industry analysts and subject matter experts does Informa TechTarget have?

Correct

Informa TechTarget has 763 industry analysts and subject matter experts

Wrong

The correct answer is 763 industry analysts and subject matter experts

Informa TechTarget is the combination of the digital businesses previously inside Informa Tech with the US company TechTarget. It’s listed on Nasdaq and focuses on helping enterprise tech companies grow faster, as well as giving professionals the trusted information they need to buy the right technology for their businesses.

Hear our leaders talk about what makes Informa TechTarget different.

Expanding
CPHI

Taking brands global

Taking brands international

When markets are international, customers want to do business all over the world.

Read transcript

How global is Informa's business – and where is growth coming from?

And we’re both growing our major brands and serving customers in more ways by launching in new locations.

To be successful, it takes a unique blend of established brands, strong international presence, supportive partners and deep local expertise.

See how CPHI put this into practice in Riyadh in 2024.

AI in Taylor &
Francis

Helping research make an impact

Every day, researchers around the world are making discoveries, uncovering insights and coming up with new ideas.

Read transcript

How is Taylor & Francis benefiting from the AI revolution?

We have teams dedicated to helping original research have maximum impact, which in turn helps advance our knowledge of the world.

Increasingly, AI is enabling us to do that quicker and better, including by making sure research is reviewed by the right experts and published in the right places. Watch how our new AI tools are making a real difference.

Lead
Insights

Where in-person meets digital

There’s more than meets the eye at our B2B events. We capture and connect up data to make the experience richer and even more valuable for everyone.

Read transcript

What is Lead Insights and how is it transforming exhibitor ROI at events?

This gives exhibitors new insights into potential customers that can make their sales and engagement more successful. It also helps us personalise the experience for attendees, making sure they get exactly what they want from the event.

We’re introducing Lead Insights, one of our key data products, to more of our markets. Hear our customers talk about it at TMRE 2024.

World Photo
Gallery

A year in pictures

The World of Informa

Every day, somewhere in the world, Informa delivers connections, opportunities, ideas, insights and experiences for businesses and professionals.

2004-2024
Our Timeline

Informa:
a 20 year view

How have we evolved to become the business Informa is today? Join us on this look-back over the last 20 years.

Which moments over the past two decades reshaped Informa the most - and why?

Take the quiz

In 2005, Informa acquired what is now the biggest yacht show in Europe and the marquee event of the superyacht world. Which event is this?

Correct

The Monaco Yacht Show was acquired by Informa in 2005

Wrong

The correct answer is the Monaco Yacht Show

2004-2007

Building the foundations

After the creation of Informa in 1998, we merge with publisher Taylor & Francis plc in 2004, forming a leader in specialist information.

Informa acquires events company IIR in 2005 and the business information group Datamonitor in 2007, expanding our portfolio and our operations in the Middle East.

Take the quiz

How many events did Informa organise in 2007?

Correct

Informa organised 12,000 events in 2007

Wrong

The correct answer is 12,000 events

2011-2012

Focusing our portfolio

In our events business, we begin to focus on large-scale exhibitions, reshaping our portfolio by divesting smaller domestically focused European conference businesses and acquiring larger-scale event brands in Brazil from BTS and in Canada from MMPI.

Taylor & Francis Online launches: a digital home for our then 1,600 specialist research journals.

Take the quiz

How many journals are homed on Taylor & Francis online today?

Correct

Taylor & Francis homes 2,700 journals online today

Wrong

The correct answer is 2,700 journals are homed online today

2013

Targeted expansion

We establish a position in China’s exhibitions market, acquiring a stake in the ownership of China Beauty Expo. We also add EBD: a specialist in biotech investment events and partnering technology.

What does the data say about Informa's long term performance since 2004?

The shift to digital

Lloyd’s List – at the time the world’s longest published newspaper – becomes a fully digital product. We launch Cogent OA: a dedicated open research brand that expands our position in the growing market for open access research.

2014

Change and investment

Stephen A. Carter starts as Group CEO in late 2013, and in mid 2014, we launch the 2014-2017 Growth Acceleration Plan to step up business growth.

This includes investing around £90m in our platforms and intelligence products, expanding in US exhibitions, creating a new divisional structure and appointing new senior leaders.

We establish a position in the US exhibitions market by adding the Virgo and Hanley Wood businesses in 2014, bringing in talent as well as major brands including World of Concrete, shown here.

And we create a ShareMatch share investment programme to enable colleagues to more directly benefit from our future growth.

£1.1bn Informa revenues in 2014

2016-2017

Gathering momentum

We further expand in large-scale specialist US exhibitions, adding Penton – owner of Natural Products Expo, Farm Progress and Aviation Week – and YPI owner of the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show.

Our open access capabilities and international reach also grow further with the addition of Dove Medical Press.

In 2017, Dow Jones recognises Informa as an industry mover for our sustainability activities.

FTSE 100 Informa enters the FTSE 100 in 2016

2018-2019

Growth and transformation

Informa combines with UBM. Through this, we welcome major international brands including Black Hat and Licensing Expo, and significantly step up our presence in Asia.

Following our expansion in the US, we establish a new hub office in central New York, home to hundreds of colleagues.

Explore long term performance through the lens of dividends, share price, and strategic reinvestment.

Our sustainability programme accelerates. In 2018, we enter the DJSI World Index and in 2019, we create the Sustainable Event Fundamentals programme and set our first science based targets.

We create Informa Tech as a stand-alone division from 1 January 2019.

2020

COVID response

We launch a COVID Action Plan to protect our brands, support colleagues and secure Informa’s long-term position and strength. This includes raising £1bn in equity, operating over 500 virtual events, creating the AllSecure live events health and safety standard, and providing open access to critical medical research.

Top 600 Taylor & Francis is awarded top 600 most visited website in 2020

Digital and data focus

We invest in our digital services and data capabilities. This includes launching our Omdia tech research brand and acquiring the F1000 Research open research business. We also further invest in our partnership with Totem, which provides digital services for live and on-demand events.

IIRIS – a customer data platform for our B2B businesses – is developed to maximise the value of data coming from customers’ increased online activity and digital interactions.

2021-2022

Growth opportunities

At the end of 2021, we launch the Growth Acceleration Plan 2 to focus Informa on new areas of opportunity and return from the period of COVID with strength.

We divest our Intelligence businesses for a total of nearly £2.5bn, reinvesting in new digital products, adding specialist tech content business Industry Dive in late 2022 and the exhibitions businesses Tarsus and Winsight in 2023.

Tahaluf is formed – a joint venture partnership in Saudi Arabia – and we launch LEAP in Riyadh, now the world’s most attended tech event.

We achieve Carbon Neutral accreditation for Taylor & Francis print products and our first events.

2023-2024

Delivering our ambitions

We complete GAP 2 with new positions in digital services and experience-led events, a higher growth rate and more focused, higher-quality portfolio of businesses.

Informa is named a top 20 best place to work in the UK by Glassdoor in 2024, and as a top three place to work in 2025.

Take the quiz

In which year did Informa begin a joint venture with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to establish Tahaluf and launch some of the biggest events in the Middle East?

Correct

Informa began a joint venture with The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in 2023

Wrong

The correct answer is 2023

Sustainability

Sustainability
up close

Over the last ten years, we’ve embedded sustainability throughout Informa. It’s become part of the way we work day-to-day, including in our events businesses.

Sustainability report PDF – 8Mb

We created the Sustainable Event Fundamentals programme for our brands to follow. It’s a comprehensive 16 point plan for helping our events to make a positive impact and maximise the opportunities greater sustainability offers.

Take the quiz

Over the past ten years, Informa colleagues have collectively walked over 340,000 kilometres as part of the company’s annual Walk the World charity event. That’s roughly equivalent to walking around the Earth how many times?

Correct

Informa colleagues have walked around the Earth roughly eight times in the past ten years.

Wrong

The correct answer is eight times.

Expanding the Fundamentals

430+ More than 430 brands were Fundamentals-accredited in 2024, an increase of nearly 15% on 2023 circa 10% Average Fundamentals scores increased by nearly 10% in 2024

Purpose

1. Sustainability is included in the event’s content and programming

2. The event has adopted our Sustainability Inside programme and is helping customers make their businesses and market more sustainable

3. The event has partnered with a relevant not-for-profit

Stakeholder engagement

4. We have consistently communicated to our exhibitors, sponsors and attendees about sustainability, with at least six communications completed

5. Sustainability is part of the event team’s decision making

Carbon and waste

6. The venue uses lighting and air conditioning efficiently, and, where it’s under our control, the event uses LED lighting

7. Any carpet is reused or recycled, and in the areas we are responsible for, there is minimal to zero waste generated

8. Our Better Stands waste reduction programme is in place and all exhibitor stands have reached at least the bronze Better Stands level – to reduce the use of disposable stands

9. The event has introduced at least three initiatives that make the most of attendees’ travel

Procurement

10. When buying goods from suppliers, the event has chosen at least three items with enhanced sustainability credentials

11. The food and beverage we offer has enhanced sustainability credentials in at least three ways

Community and wellbeing

12. We support the local community based around the event’s venue through at least two initiatives

13. The event has at least three initiatives designed to enhance accessibility and wellbeing and support equality and respect for all attendees

14. The event has at least one initiative designed to remove barriers for people to access the knowledge and networks we provide, and is measuring its impact

Governance

15. The event follows all our health and safety guidelines

16. Sustainability data and results are submitted within six weeks for assessment and feedback

KPIs

Key financial
data

Our financial results for 2024 were strong and included double-digit growth in revenues and profits. Here are the main financial indicators we track year-on-year to assess our performance.

Revenue (£m)

2024

3,553.1

2023

3,189.6

2022

2,262.4

Underlying revenue growth (%)

2024

11.6

2023

30.4

2022

31.4

Adjusted operating profit (£m)

2024

995.0

2023

853.8

2022

496.3

Free cash flow (£m)

2024

812.1

2023

631.7

2022

417.9

Informa leverage (times)

2024

2.6

2023

1.4

2022

(0.2)

Adjusted diluted earnings per share (pence)

2024

50.1

2023

45.3

2022

26.4

Dividend per share (pence)

2024

20.0

2023

18.0

2022

9.8

Downloads

View the Annual Report Archive

Momentum & Growth

A view from the top

We had an outstanding year in 2024.

Informa Festivals

Access all areas

If you think you know festivals, think again.

What makes a festival?

1 – Inspirational content

2 – Destination for innovation

3 – Powerful connections

4 – Immersive experiences

5 – Industry celebration

6 – Professional growth

7 – A city unlocked

All the world’s a festival

Informa TechTarget

Meet Informa TechTarget

Over the course of 2024, we created a new business in the digital services market.

Take the quiz

Correct

Wrong

Expanding CPHI

Taking brands global

Taking brands international

AI in Taylor & Francis

Helping research make an impact

Every day, researchers around the world are making discoveries, uncovering insights and coming up with new ideas.

Lead Insights

Where in-person meets digital

World Photo Gallery

December 2024. Dubai.

February 2024. Orlando.

September 2024. Monaco.

March 2024. San Francisco.

November 2024. Shanghai.

October 2024. Las Vegas.

February 2024. London.

March 2024. Anaheim.

January 2024. Las Vegas.

December 2024. Las Vegas.

October 2024. London.

November 2024. Hong Kong.

A year in pictures

The World of Informa

2004-2024 Our Timeline

Informa: a 20 year view

Take the quiz

Correct

Wrong

Building the foundations

Take the quiz

Correct

Wrong

Focusing our portfolio

Take the quiz

Correct

Wrong

Targeted expansion

The shift to digital

Change and investment

Gathering momentum

Growth and transformation

COVID response

Digital and data focus

Growth opportunities

Delivering our ambitions

Take the quiz

Correct

Wrong

Sustainability

Sustainability up close

Take the quiz

Correct

Wrong

Expanding the Fundamentals

Purpose

Stakeholder engagement

Carbon and waste

Procurement

Community and wellbeing

Momentum
& Growth

Informa
Festivals

What makes a
festival?

Informa
TechTarget

Expanding
CPHI

AI in Taylor &
Francis

Lead
Insights

World Photo
Gallery

2004-2024
Our Timeline

Informa:
a 20 year view

Sustainability
up close

Key financial
data