The 2023 National Outdoor Events Association (NOEA) Awards took place last night (22nd November) and saw Culture Liverpool take away the ‘Best Events Team – Local Authority’ award, and Eurovision 2023 win the ‘Event of the Year Award – Public Sector’, at the gala celebration.
The evening recognised events, event businesses, and individuals across the industry in what has been a tough but positive year for the sector. In a day which saw the earlier convention address the subject of ‘Future’, the evening recognised specific contributions to the industry that point to positivity for outdoor events.
As well as Liverpool continuing to receive accolades for another stunning year of events within the city, Grimsby was awarded ‘The Placemaking Award’ a new category which recognised the contribution of the city’s Grim Falfest in spurring both civic pride and economic growth in the city.
The Placemaking award was also given to We Are Placemaking for the businesses continued advocacy for placemaking within the events industry and across the UK. At the same time, the Event of the Year Award – Private Sector, was awarded to Weston Beach Race – RHL Activities, another event which brings in a global audience.
Other awards of note included Qdos Events Hire picking up the ‘Best Accessibility & Inclusion Initiative’, and Natural Event Europe, winning ‘The Sustainability Award’. On an individual perspective, the ‘Best Up and Coming Event Organiser: The One to Watch’ was awarded to Sarah Belcher, from Sarah Belcher Events, while the ‘Best Unsung Hero / Heroine Awards’, were given to Sophie Merivale, The Traffic Management Co, and Terry Marsh – Qdos Events Hire, respectively.
The judges of the awards underlined both the fierce competition across every award category, and the quality of the entries, the largest in the events history. The judges commented: “This has been a year where events have shown their true value to the UK. Eurovision lit everyone’s imagination, while Grim Falfest showed what we can do for local communities.
At the same time, we saw event professionals young and old recognised as the powerhouse behind these incredible events, making them safe, creative, beautiful, inspiring, and memorable.”
The Annual Convention and Awards Dinner was held in the Roman Baths and Pump Rooms, Bath.
The full list of those shortlisted and winners (in bold):
Best Accessibility & Inclusion Initiative
Qdos Event Hire
Ringwood Carnival Committee
Car Fest
Cat Kevern
Best Events Team – Event
Pennine Events
Ringwood Carnival Committee
CarFest
RHL Activities
212 Music Group LTD
The Fair
V-Live
Best Support to the Event Industry Award
Laceys Solicitors LLP
Cat Kevern
Number 8 events Ltd
Video Illusions
Ontrax Rentals
Phoenix Events (East) Ltd
Caterer of the Year Award
Passion & Smoke
Leave it to Esmie
Origin Pizza
Cleopatra’s Kitchen
The Monks Table
Saving Nemo
Pop’s Thai Kitchen
Best Events Team – Service/Supplier
The Traffic Management Company
MLD Event Group
Number 8 Events ltd
Festivall Services
Sunbelt Rentals
Festival Medical Services
Best Events Team Local Authority
Culture Liverpool
Oldham Council
Barnsley Council Arts
Visit East Yorkshire Events Team
Best Health and Safety Practice
We Are OPS
Concierge UK
Sunbelt Rentals
Safe Elephant
New Product/Service/Technology Innovation Award
GeoPura Ltd
Ontrax Rentals
Electric Star Live
The Sustainability Award
Timber Festival
GeoPura Ltd
Cupapeel by Just Peel
Saving Nemo
Natural Event Europe
Sunbelt Rentals
Wasserman
Event Supplier of the Year – Services
The Traffic Management Company
The Cloud One Group
Festival Medical Services
Safe Elephant Ltd
Festivall Services
V-Live
Event of the Year Award – Private Sector
Glastonbury Abbey Medieval Fayre – Glastonbury Abbey
Bournemouth 7s Festival – Bournemouth 7’s
Summer in the Square – Intrepid Collection
National Service 60th Anniversary celebrations at the National Memorial Arboretum – The Cloud One Group
Eat:Bedminster by eat:Festivals
Weston Beach Race – RHL Activities
Regional Event of the Year Award
Birmingham Festival 23
Eat:Bedminster by eat:Festivals
Ringwood Carnival
Summer in the Square – The Intrepid Collective
National Service 60th Anniversary celebrations at the National Memorial Arboretum. – The Cloud One Group
Event Organiser of the Year – Public Sector
Oldham Council
East Riding of Yorkshire
Barnsley Council
Event Organiser of the Year – Private Sector
Brad Lister – Glastonbury Abbey
CarFest
RHL Activities
Pennine Events Ltd
Adventurize ABR Festival
Jess Chiplen – Royal Bath and West
Small Event of the Year Award
Night at the Abbey – Glastonbury Abbey
Just So Festival
Greenford Quay, GQ Live Intrepid Collective
Eat in the Park – Jake Burnham & George Darbyshire
Orbit Fitness & Wellbeing Festival
Best Up and Coming Event Organiser: The One to Watch
Sarah Belcher – Sarah Belcher Events
Lianne Self – Royal Bath and West
Jorge and Brian – JBM Music Ltd
Wayne Hadley – Concierge UK
Event of the Year Award – Public Sector
Illuminate – Light Night Oldham Council
Eurovision 2023 – Host City Events Liverpool City Council
Barnsley’s Big Weekend -Barnsley Council
Best Unsung Hero/Heroine Award
Sophie Merivale – The Traffic Management Co
Terry Marsh – Qdos Events Hire
Clare Wells – Shropshire Festivals
Alissa Koopal – Pennine Events
Jean Lenham – Black Deer Festival
Greg Griffiths – On the Scene Management
Event Supplier of the Year – Infrastructure
Qdos Event Hire
Fineline Lighting
Ontrax Rentals
Versatile Venues
RSH Audio
Supermix Sound
Video Illusions
Best University or College Events Award
University of Derby
Sheffield Hallam University
Rural Event of the Year Award
The Royal Bath and West Show
Walking East Yorkshire Festival – Visit East Yorkshire
The Place Making Award
We are Placemaking
Grim Falfest
Outdoor Places Unusual Spaces
Greenford Quay, GQ Live
Summer in the Square -Intrepid
Barnsley Town Centre – Barnsley Council
Student Event of the Year Award
Student Industry Conference & Careers Fair
Judge’s Award
Sunbelt Rentals
Lifetime Achievement Award
Philip Day