The winners of Event Supplier and Services Association Annual Awards were announced night of 2 December 2021. Leading figures and celebrities gathered to celebrate the sector and its excellence.
Event supplier and services Association (ESSA), now in the fourth year of their award function, acknowledges those members who have demonstrated exceptional work as well as strong commitment to the sector in the past year.
Additionally this year the esteemed panel of seven judges were not only looking for outstanding contributions but also those inspiring and innovative individuals and companies who displayed outstanding leadership, resilience and compassion.
ESSA young person award, was awarded to:
● Ana Bray – Cook and Associates
● Tiylan Salih – 4wall Entertainment
This was the first category to reward two people together, as the judges couldn’t distinguish between these two young professionals in the highly contested category.
They both have achieved extraordinary success in their career, even during the pandemic.
ESSA covid Hero award, was awarded to:
● Iain Barley – The Event and Exhibition Partnership
Iain played a vital role setting up multiple vaccination centres and managing nervous frontline workers, helping formulating protocols. Iain’s story inspires and showcases the many other unsung heroes who have helped and provided frontline duties when the country was in a pandemic crisis.
Best Organizer was awarded to:
● Reed Exhibitions
Reed exhibitions was one of the first to offer post pandemic support to a community facing real life issues. Reed made efforts to keep in touch and connected with the contractors community, and accepted everyone as a part of their team to deliver events.
Best Venue Was awarded to:
● Business Design Centre
BDC has been working at the forefront with the government, since the beginning of the pandemic to bring safe return of industry post lockdown, by engaging in pilots, trial safe systems and lobbying.
ESSA Member Company Award was awarded to:
● GES
GES worked for the past 19 months to help amplify the voice of industry, taking responsibility to lead and demonstrate the sector’s ability and it’s need to safely re-open.
GES setup nightingale hospitals, testing and vaccine centres across various sites and have contributed significantly to the government.
ESSA Outstanding Contribution to the Industry Award was awarded to:
● Chris Simpson
Chris made an immeasurable global impact on the industry, innovating and overcoming obstacles and bringing health and safety to live events for creating a safer industry.
Andrew Harrison, the Director of ESSA commented saying each year it becomes more difficult for the judges to make a final decision. This year too the standard of the shortlist created was exceptionally high, reflecting the members commitment to the sector and their strong determination to overcome challenges.
The award-winning companies and individuals secured the titles as they reflected true excellence and demonstrated best practices despite challenges they faced. It’s extremely inspiring, ESSA hopes they continue to share their brilliance.
On behalf of ESSA, he congratulated everyone on the shortlist and especially the winners. The winners received their awards at the ESSA Chairman’s Dinner hosted at stadium MK.
