Last year winners of the free-to-enter awards came from across the UK with Celebrate Aberdeen picking up the NOEA Scotland Award; the Midsomerset Show in Shepton Mallet, Somerset, scooping Event Team of the Year and the City of Lincoln Christmas Market taking two of the honours with Event Organiser of the Year Award and Event of the Year.

The 13th annual Convention and Awards Dinner will be held in Bath on November 24 and Susan Tanner, NOEA’s chief executive, said: “We are returning to the city as it proved to be a great location for 2015 and we will once again be here for opening day of Bath Christmas Market, itself a fabulous outdoor event.”

The UK’s leading outdoor events trade association fights the events industry’s corner with campaigns ranging from tackling police costs to calling for a ban on Chinese lanterns due to the danger to life, livestock and land.

Judges for this year’s awards are Alastair Turner, managing director of Eight PR & Marketing which works closely with Business Visits & Events Partnership, the UK government and is also secretariat of the All Party Parliamentary Group for Events.

Andy McNicholl. City Events Manager for Liverpool Council whose highlights include the Capital of Culture Opening Ceremony and Liverpool’s 800thBirthday fireworks;  Gill Tee who is founder and Managing Director of entertee and Director of entertee Hire. As Head of Entertainment for Capital Radio she was responsible for bringing the first 100,000 capacity Party in the Park to Hyde Park.

Marino Fresh, Head of Marketing UK and Ireland for Eventbrite, completes the line-up. Marino worked with a range of leading brands including eBay, Expedia, Eurostar, Ryanair, John Lewis and BMW before joining Eventbrite.

Susan said: “We are delighted to have such experts in their fields taking time out to judge the entries; last year we had exceptional numbers demonstrating really high  standards which was wonderful and we are hoping for more of the same this year.”

There are 17 categories including Event Innovation of the Year, Event Organiser of the Year, Event Supplier of the Year, Sporting Event of the Year, Small Festival of the Year, Large Festival of the Year, Caterer of the Year, Sponsorship Campaign of the Year and Student Event of the Year.

Entries close September 12 –  to enter visit www.noea.org.uk – the event also has a range of sponsorship packages available – for more information please contact susan@noea.org.uk