Annual Conference and Awards

Annual Conference and Awards 2026

The 2026 Institute of Economic Development (iED) Annual Conference and Awards Dinner will bring together experts from the industry’s community for a full day of insight, discussion and networking.

Taking place at BMA House, London, on Wednesday 18th November, the Annual Conference – themed ‘Delivering Good Growth’ – is open to both iED members and non-members and will once again act as a trusted forum to explore the trends, challenges and opportunities shaping the sector. Through keynote speakers, expert-led sessions and focused discussion, delegates can expect deep dives into critical issues facing places, economies and communities across the UK, alongside practical insight and valuable CPD opportunities for professionals at all levels.

A long-standing fixture in the economic development calendar, the conference also offers exceptional networking opportunities with peers from across the public, private, charity and academic sectors, bringing together over 160 decision-makers. Furthermore, it will act as a launchpad for the iED’s 2026 Delivering Good Growth report – a year-long project bringing together case studies, insights and anecdotal evidence from across the economic development community.

The full line up of speakers is outlined below, with just our Panel contributors still to be confirmed.

Stephanie Flanders, iED Patron and Senior Executive Editor for Economics and Head of Bloomberg Economics at Bloomberg News, will be our host and compere for the day
Tom Stannard — Chair, iED and Chief Executive of Manchester City Council
Andrew Bailey — Governor, Bank of England
Ruth Curtice — Chief Executive, Resolution Foundation
Professor Rebecca Riley — Deputy Pro Vice Chancellor (Regional Engagement); Co‑Director, City‑REDI; Director, Local Policy Innovation Partnership (LPIP) Hub — City‑REDI, Birmingham Business School
Mott MacDonald (speaker names TBC)
Catherine Howe — Chief Executive, Dorset Council
John Till — CEO, thinkingplace
Professor Monder Ram CBE DL — Founder and Director, Centre for Research in Ethnic Minority Entrepreneurship (CREME)
Claire Pearce — Executive Director, Real Growth Ltd
Andrew Cockcroft — Head of Stakeholder Relations and Social Impact, EDF Energy
Bindu Pokkyarath — Director – Economics, Pegasus Group
Louise Kempton — Professor of Urban and Regional Policy, University of Newcastle
Polly Mackenzie — Co‑Founder and CEO, Zinc Innovation Partners
Richard Cook — Senior Director – Economics, Pegasus Group
Other Panel contributors TBC (Panel title: Devolution in action – lessons from the devolved administrations).

We’re also proud to once again be working with LGC as our official media partner, helping bring the conversation to an even wider audience.

To book your place for conference and/or an Awards Dinner ticket, please click here.

Sponsorship Opportunities

A range of sponsorship packages for the conference and awards have now been launched, offering organisations direct influence in front of an engaged audience. Options include Headline Partner, Associate Partner and Exhibition Partner, as well as Awards Headline Partner and Awards Category Partner for the Awards.

Please download our sponsorship brochure here.

Feedback from previous conferences

“I’m a regular attender of the iED Annual Conference. I think it is very valuable, bringing an opportunity to hear from others about the national economic development landscape and the ever-changing policies. It offers a platform to listen to keynote speakers and network with colleagues about how we deliver at a local level.”

“The iED Annual Conference is a really useful way to keep up with what is going on. It has been interesting watching the change in economic development into more social value and people, away from big, hard infrastructure projects. I also attend to see people who I may not meet at other points in the year, and in 2024 I brought a gang of my team from relatively new starters to quite experienced head of services, and we use this as a CPD opportunity.”

“I come to the iED Annual Conference because we get so little time out of our day-to-day business to network, listen, and digest some really rigorous presentations that are contemporary in terms of the problems we face, and the challenges we have. That really helps me get back into our local organisation and plan for the future, working with colleagues and collaborating across local authorities.”

“I’ve attended the iED Annual Conference every year, for a really long time. I always really enjoy it and get something out of the day. I never go away without learning something new and interesting, and meet people I haven’t seen for years.”

“I come to the iED Annual Conference every year. I find it a great benefit to me personally and professionally, and have attended for over 20 years now. It is a great opportunity to network, hear new speakers, and make new contacts.”

“I really enjoy the iED Annual Conference. I’ve been to the last few, and always look to network with other organisations and individuals who attend, and have the opportunity to put forward the voice of the university sector as well.”

“The reason I come to the iED Annual Conference is because I’m really interested in hearing about the current trends within economic development. 2024 was my second time at the conference, and it has been a learning journey across a range of topics as well as meeting lots of new people, which I really enjoy.”

iED Annual Awards

Now in its fourth year, the iED’s Awards Dinner also returns as a celebration of excellence and achievement in economic development, across ten individual, team and organisational categories. They include Leader of the Year, Most Innovative Project of the Year, and the Outstanding Contribution to Economic Development category, which last year was posthumously awarded to former Chief Executive of Manchester City Council, Sir Howard Bernstein.

Deadline extension – to enter the awards, individuals and teams must complete a simple online entry form by the end of August. Both self-nominations and nominations of others are welcome, as are entries from both members and non-members of the iED. The Awards Dinner will take place at BMA House following the conference, although attendance at the dinner is not a pre-requisite for entry.

To enter an award, please click here. Multiple entries are acceptable.

To read more about last year’s awards, which saw a record-breaking number of entries, click here.

Leader of the Year

Economic development professionals who have demonstrated outstanding leadership and management in their role, and who motivate and inspire their team to achieve success through effective leadership.

Team of the Year

Exceptional economic development teams who have gone above and beyond in ensuring the smooth running and effective delivery of economic development functions in their organisations.

Rising Star of the Year

Professionals working in economic development with less than 10 years experience who have demonstrated excellence, commitment, and gone above and beyond in their early career.

Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Initiative of the Year

Individuals, teams or projects who/which have strived to actively promote, celebrate and raise awareness of EDI, improving under-represented involvement in economic development in their organisation or externally.

Social Value Initiative of the Year

Individuals, teams or projects who/which have championed and made a significant contribution to social value creation, developing best practice in their field and making positive impacts in their communities.

Most Innovative Project of the Year

Innovative economic development projects which have pushed the boundaries beyond traditional approaches and delivered additional beneficial outcomes as a result of the innovation.

Collaborative Initiative of the Year

Outstanding cross-sector economic development collaboration between two or more partners drawn from local authorities, private sector, third sector, business and academia.

2026 Sponsored by Recurve

Outstanding Impact

For projects delivered and concluded in the last five years, which demonstrate benchmarked evidence against other similar initiatives. Impacts could include environmental, social, business support (from start-up to growth and scale), rural development and regeneration.

International Project of the Year

Economic development projects delivered outside the UK, or through international collaboration, which have demonstrated excellence in supporting sustainable economic growth, innovation and prosperity, while delivering measurable impacts for businesses, communities or places.

(2026 Sponsored by Oury Clark)

Outstanding Contribution to Economic Development

Individuals who have made a sustained outstanding contribution to any field of economic development over a minimum of 20 years.

(not open for entry – awarded by the iED Board)

Awards and Conference Highlights

Take a browse through our gallery from our 2025 event held at The Lowry Hotel, Manchester and watch our short highlights video of our sold out 2024 Conference and Awards Dinner, held at BMA House, London.

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