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Birmingham, 26 Nov 2026

The Legacy of Leadership Award

Some moments deserve more than a celebration. They deserve to be remembered.

Imagine hearing your name called, walking onto the stage, and sharing that moment with the people who helped you get there. Our awards day brings together extraordinary people, inspiring stories and achievements worth celebrating.

Explore the ceremony
Thursday, 26 November 2026 National Conference Centre Tickets on sale now
Glass award statuettes lined up at an awards ceremony

The day itself

It's more than an awards ceremony. It's a day you'll remember.

Months of work, a nomination, a shortlist, and then one room where it all comes together. Ask anyone who has been a finalist: what stays with them isn't the trophy. It's these.

The pause before the name.

The room goes quiet, the envelope opens, and for a second everyone is holding their breath with you.

The walk to the stage.

Applause from people you know, and from people you have never met who have just heard your story.

The table that cheers loudest.

Your team, your family, your clients. The people who were there for the hard parts, there for this one too.

Your ceremony

The Legacy of Leadership Award: the awards day

The Legacy of Leadership AwardTickets on sale now

The Legacy of Leadership Award

Thursday, 26 November 2026
National Conference CentreBirmingham | 2026-27

86 finalists, their teams and the people who believe in them, gathered for one day to find out who wins. Come and be part of it.

Imagine yourself in the room

Picture where you'll be sitting.

01

Celebrate your achievements

Feel the pride of being recognised alongside your colleagues, friends and supporters. However the envelope opens, being a finalist in that room is something you earned.

02

Make meaningful connections

Business leaders, founders, professionals and people with remarkable stories, all in one place and all in a good mood. Conversations start easily on a day like this.

03

Reward your team

Bring the people who did the work. A day out together, applauding each other, says thank you in a way a bonus email never will.

04

Create lasting memories

The photographs, the speeches, the moment your table stood up. Long after the day, it is what people still talk about.

Who will you celebrate with?

The best days are shared.

Think about who you'd want beside you when the names are read out. There's a way to bring them.

  • On your own

    Come for the room. Nobody arrives knowing everyone, and the day is made for conversation.

  • Nominees and their guests

    Your moment, with the people who helped you get there sitting right beside you.

  • Teams and colleagues

    Celebrate the people behind the results, together, away from the office.

  • Business owners and leaders

    Meet your peers, host clients, and see who is doing remarkable work in your area.

  • Corporate tables

    Put your team, your customers and your best relationships around one table.

  • Sponsors and partners

    Put your name behind the recognition and host your guests on the day.

    Explore sponsorship

Experience the day

From the first hello to the last conversation.

  1. 1

    Arrive and be welcomed

    Registration, a warm hello, and the first photographs of the day.

  2. 2

    Meet fellow guests and nominees

    Finalists, sponsors, judges and guests, mixing before the ceremony.

  3. 3

    Enjoy the atmosphere

    Hospitality, music and a room that feels like an occasion.

  4. 4

    Celebrate inspiring achievements

    The stories behind the finalists, told on stage.

  5. 5

    The awards presentation

    Category by category, the winners are announced live.

  6. 6

    Keep the conversations going

    The best introductions often happen once the trophies are handed out.

Real people, real stories

These are the people you could be celebrating with.

This year's The Legacy of Leadership Award finalists. Every one of them has a story worth hearing, and on the day you'll be in the room when theirs is told.

  • Abdul Kadir

    Abdul Kadir

    Mechanical Engineer, UNIQUE AIR TOOLS COMPANY

  • Akash Waghmare

    Akash Waghmare

    Co-editor in chief, The Public Sphere Journal

  • Alex Price

    Alex Price

    op's director, Adlington Law

  • Amanda Henderson

    Amanda Henderson

    Founder and MD, Thread HR

  • Aneesah Masood

    Aneesah Masood

    Marketing Assistant, Skirting 4 U LTD

  • Antionett Beck-Doss

    Antionett Beck-Doss

    Founder and CEO, MobileGenetix DNA

  • Ashwin Smith

    Ashwin Smith

    Depot Manager, Easishoppe

  • Ayoola Orimoloye

    Ayoola Orimoloye

    Prime Counsel Limited

  • Bhavya Jain

    Bhavya Jain

    SUGAN GOLD PVT LTD

  • Bidhan Vhadra

    Bidhan Vhadra

    Web Pulse Marketing Ltd

  • Candice Hammerton

    Candice Hammerton

    Marketing Assistant, Erwin Hymer Centre Travelworld

  • Chanel Morrison-Jolley

    Chanel Morrison-Jolley

    MD, For the Love of Scrubs Birmingham CIC

Find your experience

How would you like to be there?

Every option puts you in the same room, for the same moments. The only question is how many people you bring.

The Legacy of Leadership Award Seat

£75+ VAT

1 seat

One seat at the ceremony

The Legacy of Leadership Award Half Table

£350+ VAT

5 seats

Five seats together at a shared table

For your team

The Legacy of Leadership Award Full Table

£550+ VAT

10 seats

Your own table of ten

Paid securely by card. Your booking and receipt arrive by email.

Award ceremonies: the complete guide

Celebrating achievement. Inspiring excellence. Creating opportunities.

Award ceremonies are more than trophy presentations. They recognise outstanding people and organisations, and create opportunities to build credibility, visibility, partnerships and growth. This is the complete guide to how award ceremonies work, and your way into every part of the The Legacy of Leadership Award. Read it in order, or open the part you need.

From recognition to influence

The five-stage recognition journey

Awards are the fastest route from being good at what you do to being known, trusted and chosen for it. Each stage brings a different return.

  1. 01 Exposure

    Get seen

    Put yourself and your achievements in front of the right people.

  2. 02 Visibility

    Get known

    Build recognition beyond the customers and contacts who already know you.

  3. 03 Credibility

    Get trusted

    Use independent recognition to strengthen confidence in your business.

  4. 04 Authority

    Get chosen

    Become one of the names customers, partners and your industry associate with excellence.

  5. 05 Influence

    Get a voice

    Use recognition, expertise and visibility to help shape the conversation in your industry.

From private achievement to industry voice: every award you enter, sponsor, attend or shape moves you along this path.

Your story

Somewhere in your business is a story worth recognising.

You already do it. Someone else already benefits from it. The market just doesn't know yet.

  • Growth nobody expected.
  • An innovation that changed how something is done.
  • A team that delivered against the odds.
  • A leader who transformed a business.
  • A customer experience people keep talking about.
  • An impact your community can actually feel.

The right award turns what you already do into visible, independent recognition: the kind that changes how the market sees you.

Find where your story belongs
01What is an award ceremony?Four ideas that explain why award ceremonies exist, and why serious organisations take part.
A tradition older than business itself
From the laurel crowns of antiquity to modern industry awards, ceremonies of recognition have always done one thing: formally name the work that defines the standard. The format evolves; the function doesn't.
A structured ritual of recognition
A judged process where experts review the work of nominees and publicly recognise the most exceptional. The ceremony is the visible end of months of evaluation behind the scenes.
An organising principle for an industry
Sectors that run credible awards develop clearer standards and leadership. Recognition shapes the behaviour it rewards, which is why it matters for an industry, not just for one business.
How trust scales in a market
Buyers don't have time to evaluate every supplier from scratch. An award compresses that into one credible signal: an independent review concluded this business deserves to be named.
02Six things an awards day does that nothing else canAn advert is something you pay for. An award is something you earn, and that difference is the whole return.
Recognition
Celebrate the people and teams whose work would otherwise go unnamed. Recognition is one of the most under-priced incentives in business: it costs little and returns a great deal.
Credibility
You can't buy being recognised by the industry that watches you work. That is why recognition converts in a way advertising can't.
Visibility
Shortlist announcements, social shares and the ceremony itself: every stage of an awards programme builds awareness for the businesses inside it.
Networking
The awards day gathers finalists, sponsors, judges and business leaders in one room. Every conversation starts with a reason to talk.
Motivation and team recognition
Writing an entry focuses the team on what they actually delivered. Win or shortlist, saying it publicly lifts morale.
Business growth
One day of recognition gives you a year of reasons to talk to customers, partners and recruits. The trophy is the smallest part of the return.

Awards aren't just trophies. They're signals the market notices for a year.

03Who comes: eleven kinds of organisation that benefit mostAn awards day isn't only for the businesses on stage. Everyone in the room has a reason to be there.
Entrepreneurs
Owners growing businesses that define their niche.
Startups
Earn credibility early, at little cost.
SMEs
Move from being known to being recommended.
Corporates
Teams sponsoring or attending, where partnerships form.
Charities and social enterprises
Recognition lifts donor confidence and mission visibility together.
Investors
See the businesses others have already evaluated.
Sponsors
Be associated with excellence in your sector.
Suppliers
Meet the businesses you serve in one room.
Media
The stories of the year, gathered in one place.
Universities and educators
Find innovation and showcase student and alumni success.
Public sector and industry bodies
Visible alignment with the businesses you serve.
04What happens at the awards ceremonyFrom arrival to the last conversation: recognition, hospitality and networking.
  1. 01ArrivalWelcome, registration and official photography as guests arrive.
  2. 02NetworkingFinalists, sponsors and guests meet before the ceremony begins.
  3. 03WelcomeThe host opens the day and recognises the year's finalists.
  4. 04Keynote and entertainmentSpeakers and entertainment that frame the year just gone.
  5. 05Awards presentationCategory by category, the winners are announced live.
  6. 06Winner momentsWinners take the stage, with their teams and supporters in the room.
  7. 07PhotographyPhotographs of the winners and finalists to share afterwards.
  8. 08CelebrationA toast to every finalist, not just the winners.
  9. 09Business networkingWinners, finalists, sponsors and guests exchange next steps before they leave.
05Ten kinds of award. One standard.Most awards programmes draw their categories from this set. Use it as a map to the recognition that fits your business.
Business awards
Business of the year, growth, performance and leadership in a category.
Leadership awards
CEO, MD, Founder and Leader of the Year.
Innovation awards
Products, services, processes or models that shifted what a category does.
Customer experience awards
The teams whose customers do the marketing for them.
Sustainability awards
Moving environmental, social and governance standards forward.
Women in business awards
Female founders and leaders reshaping their categories.
Young entrepreneur awards
Early-career founders proving what they can deliver.
Community and social impact awards
Businesses whose impact reaches beyond their own results.
Industry and sector awards
Recognition within a sector: hospitality, property, professional services, technology and more.
Lifetime achievement awards
Careers and businesses that have shaped a whole category.

See the The Legacy of Leadership Award awards and categories

06From nomination to winnerEvery stage is a credibility win in itself. You don't need to win to benefit from taking part.
  1. 01NominationYou enter, or someone nominates you. Free to enter.
  2. 02Your entryTell your story, with the evidence behind it.
  3. 03ReviewEach entry is checked against its category.
  4. 04ShortlistThe strongest entries go forward: your first credibility win.
  5. 05Semi-FinalistA further round of judging in each category.
  6. 06FinalistThe top entries in each category, invited to the awards day.
  7. 07Awards dayThe winners are revealed live.
  8. 08WinnerThe trophy, and the right to say you won.
  9. 09After the awardsShare your recognition with customers, partners and your team.
07How decisions get madeAwards are only as credible as the process behind them.
Nomination
Open nominations. Self-nomination and nomination by someone else are both welcome, and judged the same way.
Review
Each entry is checked against its category before judging begins.
Judging
Entries are scored by the judging panel against the category criteria.
Shortlisting
The top-scoring entries in each category go forward.
Finalists
The finalists in each category are invited to the awards day, where the winner is announced.
Free to enter
Entry costs nothing, so recognition is earned, never bought.
08The trophy is the smallest part of winningWhat winners take away, on the day and in the year that follows.
  • The trophy, presented on stage
  • The right to say "winner" in your marketing, proposals and pitches
  • Photographs from the day to share
  • A reason for customers, partners and press to talk about you
  • Customer trust: independent recognition shortens sales conversations
  • Recruitment: strong candidates notice award-winning employers
  • Team morale: public recognition is one of the most lasting motivators
  • Social media: award moments are among the most shared content a business has
  • Partnership conversations that start because people saw your name
  • "Award-winning" becomes a permanent part of how you introduce your business

Most finalists get enough from the shortlist alone to justify their entry. Winners carry it for the year that follows.

09Even if you don't win, the shortlist still paysOne finalist wins each category, and every finalist takes away these five.
Recognition
Being shortlisted is itself a credential: your industry sees your name among the finalists.
Publicity
Shortlist announcements give you something to share before the day itself.
Networking
On the day you are in the room with judges, sponsors and the other finalists.
Exposure
Your name and story alongside the best in your category.
Credibility
"Finalist" is a permanent line on your business CV, and gives proposals and pitches weight.
10Why brands sponsor recognitionSponsoring a category puts your brand alongside excellence in your industry.
Brand exposure
Your name on a category, on stage and across the awards.
Corporate responsibility
Your brand publicly aligned with excellence in your community.
Thought leadership
Introduce your category on stage and speak to the businesses it recognises.
Customer engagement
Bring your clients to a day they will remember.
Hospitality
A table for your guests in the room where the winners are announced.
Lead generation
Meet the finalists and winners of your category.
11Why people come even when they're not nominatedAn awards day is one of the few business rooms where everyone has a reason to be there.
Inspiration
A room of people at the top of their game: what your year could look like.
Networking
Business owners, finalists, sponsors and judges, all in one room.
Learning
Winner speeches and keynotes: a few hours of peer insight.
Collaboration
Partnership conversations that take months elsewhere can start across one table here.
Business opportunities
Introductions and follow-ups that make the day worth far more than the ticket.
12What changes after you winThe trophy sits on the shelf. The recognition works across your business for a year.
  • Provider Leader

    The market stops comparing you on price and starts comparing everyone else to you.

  • Known Trusted

    Recognition is one of the fastest ways to earn trust.

  • Visible Recommended

    Referrals start arriving, with the award mentioned in the introduction.

  • Competing Chosen

    An award pre-qualifies you before the first conversation.

Why recognition matters commercially

Awards shape five parts of a business at once. Each one repays the effort of entering on its own.

Customer trust
Recognised businesses convert faster and retain better: someone independent has already evaluated you.
Employee engagement
An award is public proof that the work matters.
Recruitment
"Award-winning" attracts stronger candidates.
Partnerships
Other businesses reach out to winners with partnership offers.
Long-term reputation
Recognition year after year builds authority in your category.
13Nine ways into the room that mattersYou don't have to win to benefit. Every role has its own return.

Nominee

The business ready for recognition.

  • A structured process that makes you articulate your strongest year
  • Shortlist status: an instant credibility signal
  • Win or not, your entry becomes reusable sales and PR material

“The nomination itself is the first return.”

Enter the awards

Winner

Your category's answer to a big question.

  • The trophy, presented on stage
  • A story your customers, partners and press will want to hear
  • "Winner" in every proposal and pitch that follows

“Yesterday you were competing. Tomorrow you're the benchmark.”

Find my award

Sponsor

The brand behind the recognition.

  • Your name on a category
  • Presence on stage and across the awards
  • A table for your clients on the day

“Sponsoring recognition makes your brand feel like its source.”

Sponsor a category

Judge

The expert shaping what excellence looks like.

  • Your expertise behind every decision in your category
  • Direct influence on the standard your industry is measured by
  • An "Awards Judge" credential for your profile

“This year's judge becomes next year's first call.”

Become a judge

Speaker or host

The face of the day.

  • The main stage, in front of an invited business audience
  • Access to winners and sponsors before and after
  • Credit across the awards

“The voice of the room becomes the voice people remember.”

Speak at the awards

Guest

In the room where it happens.

  • Business owners, finalists, sponsors and judges in one room
  • See the winners announced live
  • Conversations that continue long after the day

“Where you're seated says as much as what you say.”

Attend the awards

Media partner

The story of every shortlist and every winner.

  • Access to finalists and winners for features and interviews
  • Coverage of the day itself
  • The stories of the year in one place

“Recognition isn't real until it's written about.”

Media

Industry body

The institution behind the standard.

  • Your members recognised among the finalists and winners
  • Your name alongside excellence in your sector
  • A voice in what the awards recognise

“An awards day is as credible as the institutions that back it.”

Partner with us

Ambassador

The connector who brings people into the room.

  • Introduce businesses that deserve recognition
  • Bring your own guests on the day
  • A recognised role with the awards

“The best awards day is the one you bring your people to.”

Become an ambassador
14Preparing for the awards dayThose who get the most from the day arrive with a plan. Six steps that turn one day into months of opportunity.
  1. 01Know the room before you arriveRead the finalist list. Pick the people you most want to meet, and read up on their work so the conversation starts warm.
  2. 02Brief your teamIf you're a finalist, decide who speaks, what they'll say, and what your team will share on the day.
  3. 03Plan your social mediaWrite your posts for the shortlist, your arrival, the winner announcement and the next morning. Most teams miss the moment because they did not plan it.
  4. 04Bring the right peopleBring the people who actually delivered the work. Their faces on stage matter most.
  5. 05Meet the sponsorsSponsors make the day possible, and want to meet the finalists. A short hello goes a long way.
  6. 06Follow up within 72 hoursLinkedIn posts, a news story, photos in your email signature: the days after the awards are where the return is.
15After the awards: be seen, be celebrated, be recommendedThe ceremony isn't the end. It's the start of what the recognition does for you.
Be seen as a serious business
A nomination signals commitment. Finalist status signals credibility. Winning signals you are at the top of your industry.
Make it last
Your photographs, posts and the story of your win stay with you long after the day.
Turn buyers into advocates
Recognised businesses get recommended without having to ask. Your award becomes the shortcut customers use when they tell others about you.

The honest bit

Most excellent businesses are never recognised because they never enter.

The number-one reason good businesses stay invisible isn't the quality of their work. It's that they talked themselves out of entering.

  • "We're not ready yet."

    You are. Ready is what other people decide, not what you negotiate with yourself.

  • "We don't have time to write it up."

    Fair. Entry takes minutes to start, and telling your story is the work.

  • "We don't want to look desperate."

    Entering isn't desperation. Not entering is what your competitors are doing, and regretting.

Someone in your category is being photographed with a trophy.

Every year, excellent businesses watch others collect the recognition that should have been theirs, because the others entered and they didn't. The question isn't whether you deserve recognition. It's whether you'll put yourself in the room where you can be given it.

Common questions

Frequently asked questions.

More questions about the The Legacy of Leadership Award
How do award ceremonies work?

Nominations open, entries are reviewed and judged, a shortlist is chosen, the finalists go forward, and the winners are announced at the awards ceremony.

Who can nominate?

Anyone who knows the work of the business or person they nominate: a customer, colleague, partner or friend.

Can I nominate myself?

Yes. Self-nominations are welcome and judged in exactly the same way. The person who delivered the work often tells it best.

How much does it cost to enter?

Nothing. Entering the The Legacy of Leadership Award is free.

How are winners chosen?

Entries are scored by the judging panel against the criteria of each category. The finalists in each category go forward, and the winner is announced at the ceremony.

Are these awards pay-to-win?

No. Entry is free, and buying a ticket or sponsoring has no influence on the judging.

Can a business enter more than one category?

Yes, where more than one category fits. Each entry is judged on its own.

Do I need to attend to win?

Winners are announced live at the ceremony, so finalists are encouraged to be there. If you cannot attend, someone can be there on your behalf.

Can I bring guests?

Yes. Seats and tables are available for your team, customers and supporters.

What happens if I don't win?

You leave with everything but the trophy: the shortlist credential, the room, the relationships and an entry you can reuse as sales and PR material.

How do sponsorships work?

Sponsors support individual categories or the awards as a whole, with their name on the category, presence on the day and hospitality for their guests. Sponsors do not judge.

Can I use the award in my marketing?

Yes, and you should: on your website, in proposals and pitches, in your email signature and across social media.

What if my industry isn't represented?

Tell us. Categories are reviewed as the awards grow.

Are there awards for charities and social enterprises?

Yes, where the awards include community and social impact categories. Find My Award shows what fits.

What is the difference between the shortlist and the finalists?

The shortlist is the first cut: strong entries that go forward to further judging. The finalists are the top entries in each category, invited to the ceremony, from whom the winner is chosen.

Where can I see the dates?

The ceremony date and venue are at the top of this page, and the awards calendar lists the awards days across our shows.

Your moment is waiting

One day. Hundreds of stories. Memories that last.

Whether you're celebrating a nomination, supporting someone special, rewarding your team or simply looking forward to an inspiring day, there's a place for you at the The Legacy of Leadership Award.

Your category doesn't need another supplier. It needs a leader. Awards are the shortcut from being known to being trusted, and from being trusted to being the name people recommend when you're not in the room. Finalists, winners, sponsors, judges, media and guests: pick your role and we'll put you in the right room.

Register your interest