The winners of the UK’s Event Supplier and Services Association’s (ESSA) 2022 Awards celebrated their success a The Forest of Arden Birmingham, 8 December.
Now in their fifth year, the ESSA awards were introduced to recognise bold and innovative individuals and companies who have set new standards for the exhibition sector during the previous 12 months.
This year’s Awards were presented across eight categories including Unsung Hero and Innovation of the Year as well as a new Sustainability accolade acknowledging its rising importance.
ESSA OUTSTANDING CONTRIBUTION TO THE INDUSTRY AWARD 2022, sponsored by Abraxys Global, went to Lou Kiwanuka of OpsShaper, for her championing of a greater understanding of mental health, as well as her work on mentoring, inclusiveness, training and education and improvements in contractor welfare and health and safety. Lou also played a significant role throughout the pandemic, chairing the UK’s Events Industry Alliance and ESSA, working hard over a crucial period to secure a clear vision for ESSA’s future.
ESSA YOUNG PERSON AWARD 2022, sponsored by Rocket Exhibition Services, went to Ellen Stokes of Be Exhibitions. Ellen started Be Exhibitions Ltd aged 22 and, six years on, a flourishing business is testament to her passion and love for the industry.
ESSA MEMBER COMPANY AWARD 2022, sponsored by Beechwood Event Flooring, went to Abraxys Global, a multi-award-winning health & safety consultancy. The company has proactively lobbied the government for the benefit of the wider industry and has raised over £20,000 through charity work.
SUSTAINABILITY, sponsored by BeMatrix UK, was won by Skyline Whitespace. Its eco credentials are exemplary: from a CO2 absorbing roof, recycling over 90% of their waste and using 100% renewable energy, to planting 400 trees via ‘One Tree Planted’ to cover work output in 2021 and donating redundant custom furniture and materials to local charities and schools.
ESSA UNSUNG HERO 2022, sponsored by InEvexco, went to Elsie O’Dwyer, from The Barista.
INNOVATION OF THE YEAR 2022 (Tech/Non-Tech), sponsored by Briggs Equipment, went to Rego Smart Stands, which provided a solution for exhibitors unable to attend trade shows in person post-Covid, but who still needed to maintain a presence. Fully trained Rego Sales Hosts were deployed to host stands resulting in successful exhibitions for all parties.
BEST VENUE 2022, sponsored by Macro Art, went to Manchester Central.
BEST ORGANISER 2022 , sponsored by Immersive AV, went to Clarion Events.
ESSA director Andrew Harrison said: “Leading a business to success can be a tough challenge. It’s inspiring to see the volume of ingenuity that has come out of the past 12 months in the face of arguably the most challenging 12 months on record, which makes us optimistic about the future. It’s clear to see that our members remain firmly on a path of continual improvement, with a hunger to explore and immerse themselves in additional areas, such as sustainability, in order to lead from the front.
“The ESSA Awards have grown to eight categories this year, the most to date, to reflect the dedication, commitment and sheer hard work of our members. We are proud to see such excellence within our member base from which others can learn and which ultimately makes this industry a safer place. We congratulate all the deserving candidates on the shortlist, especially our winners.”
The winners received their honours at the Annual ESSA Dinner and Awards hosted at the Forest of Arden Country Club Birmingham.
