New events agency, The Intrepid Collective, were one of the major winners in last night’s NOEA Annual Awards as the association celebrated the best and the brightest of the UK outdoor events sector. The event also saw the association’s much coveted ‘i’ Award given to The Showman’s Show as it celebrates its 40th year in the industry.

The Intrepid Collective took away three awards, including the Judges Award, Best Events Team (COMPANY), and Event of the Year, for the agency’s activations at The Leadenhall Building – Summer of Sport. In other news, Visit Yorkshire Events Team picked up the Best Events Team (COUNCIL), while Event Organiser of the Year COMPANY went to CarFest, and Event Organiser of the Year INDIVIDUAL, went to Simon Stewart from the Cheese and Chilli Festivals.

In other individual awards, Torquil MacLeod, Visit Scotland, took away the Best Support to the Event Industry Award, while Dan Tully – Royal Bath & West Show won the Best Unsung Hero/Heroine Award, and Maddie Charidge – MLD Events, won the Best Up and Coming Event organiser: The One to Watch.

Earlier in the day the National Outdoor Event Association Convention had taken place, looking at the New Events World 2025, and by the quality of the entries and winners, the outlook for the industry should be positive, despite the many headwinds it continues to face.

The judges of the awards underlined both the continues competitiveness of the awards, and the quality of the entries, up over 30% from previous years. The judges commented: “This felt like a really ‘people-orientated’ awards event. The businesses and events that won put great people at the core of what they do, and the individual awards celebrated some very special people.”

“We were also delighted to be able to recognize The Showman’s Show for the ‘I’ Award. There was not a business in the room that hasn’t been to, benefited from, or partnered with the show. They have been exceptional for 40 years and deserve recognition from organisations like NOEA,” commented Al Turner, Chair of the Judges.

The Annual Convention and Awards Dinner was held in the Roman Baths and Pump Rooms, Bath. For a full list of winners, see below.

Best Events Team COMPANY
Winner: The Intrepid Collective
Finalists:
EnTEEtaiment Ltd
JSW Entertainment
Wernick Events
The Bath & West Team
Phoenix Events (East) Ltd

Best Events Team COUNCIL
Winner: Visit East Yorkshire Events Team
Finalists:
Hull City Council Events Team
Falkirk Council Events team

Best Health & Safety Practice Award
Winner: Safe Elephant Ltd
Finalist:
Relentless Event Management

Best Student Event Award
Winner: Swansea House Party
Finalists:
ITT Future You Student Conference & Careers Fair
ITT future you Swansea – university of Wales trinity Saint David

Best Support to the Event Industry Award
Winner: Torquil MacLeod – Visit Scotland
Finalist:
Cat Kevern – NOWIE
Festival Medical Services
The Event Structures Industry Training Scheme (ESITS)

Best University or College Events Course
Winner: University of Wales Trinity Saint David Events & International Festivals Management Course
Winner: BA(Hons) Events Management, UK Centre for Events Management

Best Unsung Hero/Heroine Award
Winner: Dan Tully – Royal Bath & West Show
Finalists:
Natalie Evans – The Occasionall Group
Sensation Entertainment
Gohangers
John Barton

Best Up and Coming Event organiser: The One to Watch
Winner: Maddie Charidge – MLD Events
Finalists:
Ian Moore – Relentless Event Management
Beach Rugby & Netball Festivals

Caterer of the Year Award
Winner: Caribbean Kitchen and Bar Limited
Finalists:
Pop’s Thai Kitchen
Ricky Dough bro

Event of the Year Award
Winner: The Leadenhall Building – Summer of Sport, The Intrepid Collective
Bournemouth 7s Festival
Finalists:
Baker Street Quarter Partnership, The Intrepid Collective
Glastonbury Abbey Medieval Fayre

Event Organiser of the Year COMPANY
Winner: CarFest
Finalists
Shropshire Festivals
Versatile Venues LTD
Wasserman Mass Participation

Event Organiser of the Year INDIVIDUAL
Winner: Simon Stewart – Cheese and Chilli Festivals
Finalist:
Jess Chiplen -Royal Bath & West Show

Event Supplier of the Year SERVICES
Winner: Enhanced Care Services
Finalist:
The Occasionall Group
The Cloud One Group
Controlled Events
MET Medical Ltd

Event Supplier of the Year INFRASTRUCTURE
Winner: Video Illusions + Cucumber Productions
Finalists:
Wernick Events
Field & Lawn
Qdos Event Hire
Fineline Lighting Services Ltd

New Product/Service/Technology Innovation Award
Winner: The Event Structures Industry Training Scheme (ESITS)
Finalist:
MET Medical

Production Partnership of the Year Award
Winner: Redwood Event Solutions & Pride Cymru
Finalists:
Rase Productions Ltd and the Sausage & Cider Festival Tour
ATG Swansea Arena & Events students of University of Wales Trinity Saint David

Regional Event of the Year Award
Winner: Culture Liverpool & Make CIC
Finalists:
The Chrisp Street Jamboree
Institute of Travel & Tourism Future You Wales

Rural Event of the Year
Winner: Royal Three Counties Show
Finalists:
The Dairy Show
Ottery St Mary Food and Families Festival

Small Event of the Year Award
Winner: Tiree Music Festival
Finalists:
Treehouse Festival
Ottery St Mary Food and Families Festival
DadFest

The Place Making Award
Winner: Birmingham Weekender Festival
Finalists:
Baker Street Quarter Partnership – The Intrepid Collective
Greenford Quay -The Intrepid Collective

The Sustainability Award EVENT
Winner: Shropshire Festivals
Finalist:
The Occasionall Group
Treehouse Festival

The Sustainability Award SUPPLIER
Winner: Power Logistics
Finalist:
GeoPura

Best Accessibility & Inclusion Initiative
Winner: NOWIE
Finalist:
CarFest