"The award didn’t just celebrate what we had achieved; it strengthened belief in our long-term vision." - Broadway Events

How did winning an AEO Excellence Award influence stakeholder confidence - internally and externally?

Winning an AEO Excellence Award had an immediate and lasting impact on stakeholder confidence. Externally, the award provided independent validation of our innovation and commercial performance. For stakeholders, it reinforced that they were investing in an award-winning, high-performing event with proven ROI. Stakeholders want to align with events that demonstrate credibility and excellence. Being recognised by the sector elevated our brand positioning and further cemented our reputation as the must-attend event for early years leaders. Internally, the impact was just as significant. Our team had worked tirelessly to exceed objectives. It reinforced a culture of innovation, collaboration and continuous improvement, giving the team confidence to push boundaries even further. The award didn’t just celebrate what we had achieved; it strengthened belief in our long-term vision.

What advice would you give to organisers considering entering the AEO Excellence Awards?

My advice would be simple. Be honest, lay bare the facts and describe the impact the event had. Start with the data, judges are looking for measurable results and clear objectives. Demonstrate your industry relevance, the strongest entries show how the event genuinely serves its community. In our case, deep research, advisory board insights and sector-specific problem-solving were central to our success. Explain why your decisions mattered, show what makes you different. Highlight the bold choices you made and be clear about challenges. Explain the obstacles you faced and how you overcame them. And finally, tell a story.

Why is an AEO Excellence Award 'the one to win'?

An AEO Excellence Award is the one to win because it represents peer-recognised excellence within the UK events industry. AEO recognition carries weight because it is judged by industry experts who understand the commercial realities, operational complexities and pressures organisers face. For us, winning confirmed that our event didn’t just look successful, it was strategically, commercially and operationally excellent.