NOEA Release 2024 Award Finalists

The National Outdoor Events Association (NOEA) have released the finalists for this year’s NOEA Awards, which will take place 26^th November at The Pump Rooms, Bath ahead of the association’s annual convention. The shortlist includes premium industry brands including CarFest, Wasserman, ESITS, and Qdos.

The shortlist spans 24 categories, including a Judges Award, and represent the very best of the events industry in 2024. The Best Accessibility & Inclusion Initiative, saw two finalists, with NOWIE and CarFest seeking to win the well sought after award. Meanwhile the Best Support to the Event Industry Award will see, Torquil MacLeod – Visit Scotland, Festival Medical Services, and The Event Structures Industry Training Scheme (ESITS) all considered for the award.

Like many of the categories, The Sustainability Awards saw huge increases in entrance, and the judges decided to split the category between EVENT and SUPPLIER; Shropshire Festivals, The Occasionall Group, and Treehouse Festival, will battle for the former, with Power Logistics and GeoPura in contention for the latter.

Similarly, the Best Events Team category was split by COMPANY and COUNCIL with The Intrepid Collective, EnTEEtaiment Ltd, JSW Entertainment, Wernick Events, The Bath & West Team and, Phoenix Events (East) Ltd, competing for the company awards, and Visit East Yorkshire Events Team, Hull City Council Events Team, and Falkirk Council Events Team, in the running for COUNCIL.

“Both the quality and quantity of the awards rose again this year, and the judging was really difficult,” commented Al Turner, Awards Judges Chair. “It really was a celebration of the best of the industry, with some stunning event services, people, and potential. It’s a reminder that no matter how tough things get in this industry, we still produce the goods.”

The coveted Event Organiser of the Year COMPANY saw Shropshire Festivals, Versatile Venues LTD, CarFest, and Wasserman Mass Participation, all reach the shortlist, while the Event Organiser of the Year INDIVIDUAL saw Simon Stewart, Cheese and Chilli Festivals, and Jess Chiplen, Royal Bath & West Show, both through to the final. The Event of the Year Award will go to one of, The Leadenhall Building Summer of Sport, by The Intrepid Collective, Bournemouth 7s Festival, Baker Street Quarter Partnership by The Intrepid Collective, or Glastonbury Abbey Medieval Fayre.

Within the supplier awards, the Event Supplier of the Year SERVICES category see’s The Occasionall Group, The Cloud One Group, Enhanced Care Services, Controlled Events, and MET Medical Ltd in the final selection, while Event Supplier of the Year INFRASTRUCTURE will have Wernick Events, Field & Lawn, Video Illusions + Cucumber Productions, Qdos Event Hire, and Fineline Lighting Services Ltd, all in contention. The Caterer of the Year Award sees the Caribbean Kitchen and Bar Limited, Pop’s Thai Kitchen, and Ricky Dough Bro all shortlisted.

Other categories in the awards include, Best Unsung Hero/Heroine Award, Best Health & Safety Practice Award, New Product/Service/Technology Innovation Award Best Up and Coming Event organiser: The One to Watch, Best Student Event Award, Best University or College Events Course, Production Partnership of the Year Award, Regional Event of the Year Award, Rural Event of the Year, Small Event of the Year Award, and The Place Making Award.

A full list is found below.