BEST DEVELOPMENT OF AN EXISTING ASSOCIATION EVENT
Alliance for Rural Electrification – ARE Energy Access Investment Forum (EAIF)
EAIF is the top annual investment event for the renewable electrification sector, fostering business and investor partnerships for the purpose of sustainable electricity access, decarbonisation, economic growth and fighting against climate change.
Launched in 2014 as a modest seminar in Belgium, the Energy Access Investment Forum (EAIF) has evolved over the past decade into the flagship global investment event for the distributed renewable energy sector. Organised by the Alliance for Rural Electrification (ARE), EAIF 2025 featured an insightful conference, lively exhibition, GET.invest matchmaking, site visits and workshops. At its 10th anniversary, EAIF welcomed over 1,000 participants, including 500 on-site delegates, from more than 75 countries — a record-breaking milestone and a testament to the Forum’s growing relevance and influence. Through mails and social media campaigns, EAIF 2025 received about 1,000,000 views from relevant stakeholders and appeared on 12 regional and local media channels such as national TV stations, and regional newspapers.
Automate UK – PPMA Show, Reinventing a Legacy Event for a New Industrial Era
PPMA Show 2024 marked a bold new chapter for the UK’s leading event for processing and packaging machinery. Under the new Automate UK identity, the show was transformed from a traditional trade exhibition into a dynamic, tech-forward platform serving the evolving needs of manufacturers, innovators, and automation professionals.
Combining legacy with innovation, the event introduced a curated demo theatre, cutting-edge app technology, 360° virtual stand tours, and inclusive branding support. With over 350 exhibitors and 12,000+ attendees, it achieved record engagement, generated 3,000+ leads, and delivered £1.8 million in re-investable profit.
More than a rebrand, this was a cultural shift – future-focused, accessible, and designed to empower members across the sector. PPMA Show 2024 set a new benchmark for association-led events and stands as a model for how to modernise without losing identity.
ENT UK – BRS Juniors Day and Annual Meeting
The British Rhinological Society (BRS), founded in 2002, focuses on advancing rhinology education, research, and clinical excellence. After joining ENT UK in 2022, BRS significantly increased its reach and impact, exemplified by the record-breaking success of its 2025 event. The event included an inclusive format with a Juniors’ Day and an Annual Meeting, attracting 102 junior members and fostering mentorship.
Strategic planning ensured accessibility, cost-effectiveness, and engagement. A comprehensive programme emphasized diversity and incorporated feedback from previous years, enhancing its relevance and appeal. Strong project management and a critical path approach enabled the small team to efficiently deliver high-quality events.
Sponsorship efforts leveraged targeted CRM strategies, flexible packages, and initiatives to boost delegate-sponsor interaction, such as “Connect and Collect” cards. Marketing campaigns used diverse channels, promoting attendance, abstract submissions, and sponsorship opportunities. These efforts led to notable growth in delegate and sponsor income, membership, and financial surpluses, contributing to grants and education.
The event, held in Edinburgh, celebrated local culture and sustainability. BRS’s reputation has grown substantially, with record engagement and positive feedback. Plans for the 2026 event in Cornwall are underway, continuing BRS’s commitment to professional development and innovation.
Market Research Society – MRS Annual Conference
The MRS Annual Conference underwent a strategic transformation from a declining two-day event into a dynamic, one-day conference with expanded relevance and impact. Rebranded and driven by a new content production team, the event adopted a engagement-led approach to broaden appeal, particularly to younger and mid-level researchers. Extensive stakeholder research informed a revised call for papers, doubling submissions and diversifying content. The revamped format featured 27 sessions across three streams, client-led chairs, innovation-focused content, and new session types like MRS Shorts and MRS Thinks.
Networking was enhanced through exclusive lunches and community-focused activities. Sponsorship models evolved to include high-value partnerships without compromising editorial integrity, while a refreshed marketing campaign boosted engagement and visibility.
The outcome was a significant rise in delegate attendance, stronger sponsor engagement, a notable increase in media coverage, and high levels of delegate satisfaction. The transformation exceeded all key performance metrics and firmly re-established the event as a leading conference within the global research sector.
Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health – RCPCH Conference
The Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health (RCPCH) strategically developed its 2025 Annual Conference into a record-breaking event, setting new benchmarks for engagement, innovation, and commercial success. Centred on the theme “innovate, integrate and inspire,” the Glasgow conference delivered a 23% year-on-year growth in commercial revenue and an outstanding attendee experience, reflected in a high net promoter score.
Key developments included the launch of a highly successful Rare Disease Hub and the introduction of digital ePosters. The event powerfully advanced the College’s mission, celebrating the 10th anniversary of its children’s network, RCPCH &Us, and uniting a global community of 2,003 child health professionals from over 40 countries. The RCPCH Conference 2025 demonstrates exceptional development through its remarkable financial performance, innovative features, and profound impact on the paediatric community.
Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners – Private Client Awards
Now celebrating its 20th year, the STEP Private Client Awards continue to demonstrate enduring relevance and growing prestige in the industry. Each year, the event attracts over 500 attendees, receives more than 300 entries, and includes submissions from at least 28 countries.
The international judging panel—representing 14 different nations—ensures a fair, rigorous, and globally informed evaluation process. With a clear focus on quality, integrity, and innovation, the Awards play a vital role in raising professional standards across the private client community.
Operational improvements, inclusive practices, and a strategic approach to financial sustainability have strengthened the Awards’ foundation for the future. As the programme enters its third decade, it remains a powerful platform for recognising excellence, sharing best practices, and supporting the continued growth and professionalism of the global private client industry.
The Chartered Institute of Payroll Professionals – Annual Conference and Exhibition (ACE)
The Chartered Institute of Payroll Professionals (CIPP) is committed to raising the profile of payroll across the UK and beyond. Our flagship event, the Annual Conference and Exhibition (ACE), has been the UK’s largest and only residential payroll event for over 35 years. In 2024, ACE underwent a strategic transformation to modernise its format, strengthen engagement, and align more closely with event mission: to connect, educate, and celebrate payroll and pensions professionals.
Held at the Celtic Manor, ACE brings together industry professionals for two days of learning, networking, and recognition, culminating in the Annual Excellence Awards. Marketing has also advanced significantly—introducing a new look and feel each year, dynamic video content, and expanding our digital reach. In 2024, the event webpage traffic rose by over 94% from 2019, and we’ve achieved 148% income growth since then.
Exhibitor demand has also soared, growing from 25 stands in 2022, to a planned 45 in 2025. Post-event feedback consistently ranks content and experience as excellent. ACE plays a vital role in increasing membership by showcasing value, offering exclusive benefits, and enhancing industry collaboration.
The Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development – The Festival of Work
The CIPD Festival of Work 2024 redefined what a professional event can be. It blended thought leadership with human connection, inclusion with innovation, and commercial success with social impact. By evolving from a conventional conference into a dynamic, meaningful experience, the Festival not only exceeded all targets but also embodied the values and vision of the people profession it serves.
Through bold design, collaborative planning, and audience-first thinking, CIPD delivered a truly exceptional evolution of an existing event—setting a new benchmark for association-led experiences.
The European Society for Cataract and Refractive Surgeons – The 42nd Annual Congress of The ESCRS
The 42nd ESCRS Congress 2024 in Barcelona reaffirmed its status as one of the most influential global events in ophthalmology, drawing a record-breaking 16,735 participants from 126 countries. This milestone edition featured a rich and complex programme, including symposia, instructional courses, hands-on wet and dry labs, and interactive formats tailored to a broad international audience of surgeons, researchers, and industry leaders.
Innovation and inclusion were at the heart of the Congress. The BOSS (Building Our Sustainable Society) programme advanced critical discussions around diversity, equity, and inclusion in the profession, while the IOL Museum—developed in partnership with Sir Harold Ridley’s family—celebrated 75 years of intraocular lens innovation with a compelling educational installation.
In collaboration with MCI and the United Nations, the Congress set new standards in sustainable event delivery. Initiatives included a hotel sustainability rating system, waste-conscious packaging, and onsite experiences like energy cycling stations to raise awareness around the environmental impact of medical waste.
Accessibility remained a key priority, with live-streamed and on-demand content, and family-friendly facilities ensuring broader participation. Through its strategic, educational, and environmental impact, ESCRS 2024 delivered not just a congress, but a legacy.
