The NOEA Annual Convention & Awards return to The Roman Baths and Pump Rooms, Bath, 22nd November 17, with attention returning to the association’s Commercialisation Project throughout the day conference and evening awards.
This year, the association is also delighted to announce once more a star studded evening and a high profile day of compelling content. NOEA is delighted to have confirmed Paul Smith, Director of City & Spectator Experience from the Global Events team at the England & Wales Cricket Board (ECB), as the keynote speaker during the day. As part of organisational leadership for the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup, earlier this summer, Paul was part of the team that oversaw one of the standout outdoor events of the year. In his talk, he will address the challenges going into hosting this and other global sports events, and how the Women’s Cricket World Cup team pulled together to create a globally iconic moment and allow access to a sport for a generation.
He will be joined in the evening by James Heappey MP, Chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group for Events, who will once again attend the industries primary awards evening.
Last year NOEA announced commercialisation as one of the key themes for the association to tackle through its membership, and on behalf of the wider UK outdoor events industry. The convention last year told emotional stories of event organisers anguish when creating new events, as well as insightful ideas on balancing profit, risk, income and spend. The theme was widely taken on by the industry as we challenged the robustness and rewards the industry offers to both individuals and businesses.
The appetite for this topic has been huge, and wide reaching across the industry, for a conversation about commercialisation and robust business within the industry. It is for this reason that The Commercialisation Project will return for 2017 with its ‘Part Two’ theme; ‘Create. Collaborate. Control’.
Both the convention and awards will adopt this theme, with speakers looking at the artistic creation of events, as well as the fiscal challenges in putting them on. The event will focus particularly on the partnerships and relationships around the industry that allow for better business, more value, and a higher standard of event. Members will also see insight into the importance of ‘Control’ within events, with NOEA specialists on security, safety, health and wellness, all offering new thought leadership on the day.
The day before the event, there will be specialist briefings, with the reconvening of the Futures Forum Group by GL events UK, and a specialist briefing from ACT, NOEA’s second Futures Forum Supporter, on the language around Health & Safety. These private events will feed into the main conversation topics taking place on the 22ndNovember 17.
During the main convention itinerary, the event will once again combine keynote sessions with break out seminars offering choice and insight to delegates. The keynotes will feature panel discussions on relationships between suppliers and buyers, how to get the best relationships with commercial partners, and how to create robust businesses around great events. The breakout sessions will look at working relationships between organisers and brands, organisers and safety officials and events and policing and security.
Once again, the aim of the convention will be to highlight how the industry can work better to create a more robust and commercially viable outdoor events industry. Last year over 120 delegates attended the event and, with the exceptional feedback following the convention, NOEA is looking forward to welcoming around 200 guests. With this in mind, more networking time will be allowed between sessions.
In the evening The Commercialisation Project theme will also continue at the NOEA Annual Awards. The association will once again acknowledge the very best in class within the events industry across a host of categories. The judging panel will pay attention to those entries that show due consideration to the commercial aspects of their business, as well as the creative and organisational abilities.
Last year special awards were handed to Michael Eavis from Glastonbury, and heroic triathlete Bailey Matthews (aged 9). James Heappey MP, Chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group for Events also keynoted the event in what was an astounding gathering and celebration of the industry, and a huge recognition of its role in the national identity.
Once again, this year NOEA will see the very best in the business celebrated at the end of another gruelling season of magical outdoor events. Never has the industry needed more recognition, more discussion and debate. So please join us on the 22nd November for the industry’s annual Convention & Awards event.