The Association of British Professional Conference Organisers (ABPCO) has announced the finalists for the 2025 ABPCO Excellence Awards, with entries up 20 per cent on last year.
The awards, which recognise achievement, innovation and best practice across association, charity, membership and public sector events, will take place at Manchester Central on Friday 12 December.
The gala lunch will bring together professionals from across the UK and beyond to celebrate excellence across 15 categories. Two other honours, the Lifetime Achievement Award and Outstanding Contribution Award, will be revealed on the day.
Heather Lishman, ABPCO association director, said: “We are delighted by the 20 per cent growth in entries this year - a testament to the increasing prominence of the ABPCO Excellence Awards within the association and non-profit sector. Our expanded sponsorship support, venue collaboration, and engagement with emerging talent reflect ABPCO’s mission: to recognise success, celebrate excellence, and nurture the future of our industry.”
The awards form part of a two-day programme in Manchester, including informal networking, educational activities and social events on Thursday 11 December, ahead of the main ceremony the following day.
Best Association Events Team – sponsored by ACC Liverpool
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British Society of Soil Science
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The Mosaic Events Team
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MCI Events Team – ESCRS
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NAHT Events Team
Best Digital & Technology Provider – sponsored by Live Recruitment
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CrowdComms
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VenuIQ
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Kubify
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EventsAIR
Best EDI at a Conference – sponsored by Meet Cambridge
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KC Jones Conference & Events
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NASUWT – The Teachers’ Union and Freshwater
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RenewableUK – Global Offshore Wind 2025
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Brightelm – Minoritised Life Scientists Future Forum
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Event-ful – Making Tourism Accessible
Best Event by an Agency PCO – sponsored by Full Circle
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TFI Lodestar – BSG LIVE
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MCI Events Team – ESCRS
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Wonderly – CIPD Festival of Work
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Conference Partners International – British Society for Haematology
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Brightelm – Minoritised Life Scientists Future Forum
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Event-ful – Meet the Buyer 2025
Best Event by an In-house PCO – sponsored by P&J Live
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RCPCH – 2025 Annual Conference
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The Institute of Leadership – The Leadership Awards
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BSI & IEC General Meeting
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NAHT Events Team
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PLSA (Pensions UK) Investment Conference
Best International Conference – sponsored by Boardroom magazine
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ISCoS 2024 – International Spinal Cord Society Annual Scientific Meeting, Antwerp
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The European Society for Traumatic Stress Studies, Tbilisi (Abbey Conferences)
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TFI Lodestar – European Orthodontic Society (EOS)
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MCI – ESCRS 2024
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5th International Social Housing Festival (Conference Partners International)
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World Muscle Society (WMS) Congress, Prague (Azura Events)
Best Member Engagement – sponsored by Memcom
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RCPsych International Congress 2025
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BSSS Conference – Engaging members in legacy projects
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Beyond the Event: A Visionary Approach to NAHT Member Engagement
Best Partnership – sponsored by Telford International Centre
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Neurodiversity in Events: A Cross-Sector Collaboration Creating Meaningful Change
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TFI Lodestar, SEC & Glasgow Convention Bureau – for British Society of Gastroenterology
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RCPCH & Wonderly – ‘anything but a traditional partnership!’
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Opening Doors & Venues Limited with Meet Cambridge
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The Royal Armouries with UKREiif
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RCGP and Wonderly
Best Sustainable Conference – sponsored by GES
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BSI & IEC
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RenewableUK – Global Offshore Wind 2025
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BeaconHouse Events – TechNExt 2025
Guiding Star – sponsored by Excel London
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Sophie Beasor – Power of Events
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Amy Phillips – ICC Wales
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Garth Halliday – RenewableUK
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Melanie Boyce – IOM3
Industry Supplier of the Year
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CrowdComms
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Harrogate Convention Centre
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Full Circle Events & Exhibitions
Legacy and Impact Award – sponsored by Bridgewater Hall
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The Power of Events – Schools Engagement Programme
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IPVC 2024 Legacy Programme (in partnership with the EICC)
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‘Collectively we can Accelerate Action for Gender Equality’ (Hopefull Handbags, Mums in Business & Visit Belfast)
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BSSS Conference – Engaging the public with Soil Science
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Meet in Wales – aligned with the Well-being of Future Generations Act
Rising Star – sponsored by Abstract Events
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Ashleigh John – Satellite Applications Catapult
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Chloe Turner – ICC Wales
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James Lee – IOM3
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Daisy Basilio – Victory Services Club
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Shannon Hunt – Freshwater
Student of the Year – sponsored by Royal Armouries, Leeds
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Isha Lakhani – Oxford Brookes University
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Mariana Gil Perez – University of Surrey
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Hana Taylor – Oxford Brookes University
Tickets are open to both members and non-members.
