Finalists announced for iED Annual Awards 2026

The shortlist has been announced for the iED Awards 2026, an annual celebration of excellence and achievement in economic development across the public and private sectors.

Finalists will be recognised in 10 individual, team and organisational categories when the awards from the Institute of Economic Development take place in the Grand Hall at BMA House, London, on 18th November. Overall winners will take to the stage to be presented with their trophies on the night.

A total of 99 entries were received – the most since the awards launched four years ago – across categories including Collaborative Initiative of the Year, Leader of the Year and Rising Star, and a new category for 2026, International Project of the Year.

A special award, Outstanding Contribution to Economic Development, will be announced on the night, recognising an individual who’s made a sustained contribution to the field. Last year, the award was posthumously bestowed to former Chief Executive of Manchester City Council, Sir Howard Bernstein.

The nominees for the iED Annual Awards 2026 are:

Collaborative Initiative of the Year – sponsored by Recurve
• Liverpool City Region CA – Liverpool City Region Innovation Zone
• Leeds City Council – Leeds Anchor Network & Leeds Business Anchors
• Manchester City Council – UNESCO City of Learning Partnership
• Bath and North East Somerset Council, and Pegasus Group – Old Printworks Arts, Radstock
• AD:VENTURE Business Support West Yorkshire – West Yorkshire Entrepreneurial Ecosystem Partnership

Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Initiative of the Year
• South of Scotland Enterprise – Pathways Programme
• TECH SY – Women in Tech & Investment Taskforce
• Waverley Borough Council Economic Development Team – Enterprising Women

International Project of the Year – sponsored by Oury Clark
• Bermuda Economic Development Corporation – Global Entrepreneurship Week Bermuda
• Mott MacDonald – Gauteng Provincial Government PMO & Business Case Advisory Support
• Hoover Energy Texas and University of East London Project

Leader of the Year – sponsored by SmartPath by Smarter Society
• Tracey Johnson, TECH SY
• Rob Foreman, Chair of Governors, Wakefield Council’s Adult and Community Education Service
• John Till, CEO, thinkingplace

Most Innovative Project of the Year – sponsored by Third Life Economics
• East West Rail’s Economic Development Programme, supported by Mott MacDonald
• Bath & North East Somerset – SOMER (Bath Spa University, Bath & North East Somerset Council, and Future Fashion Works)
• Hoover Energy – London Design & Engineering UTC Microgrid, Royal Docks
• North Norfolk DC – North Norfolk Electronic Tourist Information Points (E-TIPS)

Outstanding Impact
• The Consortium (East) Ltd – Elevate Basildon Business
• Greater Manchester Business Growth Hub – UKSPF E23 & E19 programmes
• Norfolk County Council – Go Digital
• Wakefield MDC – Money Smart

Rising Star of the Year
• Georgia Winter, Blaenau Gwent County Borough Council
• Megan Smith, AMION Consulting
• Oliver Witty, Greater Manchester Business Growth Hub

Social Initiative of the Year – sponsored by Social Value Engine
• In Harmony Liverpool Philharmonic
• Lambert Smith Hampton – Croxley Park social value strategy
• Northumberland County Council – NCC-QTS Cambois social value strategy
• London Borough of Islington – Islington Council Affordable Workspace Programme

Team of the Year
• Burnley Borough Council – Economic Development Service
• South Kesteven District Council – Economic Development Team
• Wigan Council – Economic Development Team
• Gloucestershire County Council – Economic Development Team

The awards ceremony will take place after the iED’s Annual Conference, themed on ‘Delivering Good Growth’, which brings together experts from the industry’s community, acting as a trusted forum to explore the trends, challenges and opportunities shaping the sector.

Stephanie Flanders, Head of Economics and Politics at Bloomberg News and former BBC journalist, and Patron of the iED will host the day. Promising a packed schedule of insight, discussion and networking, confirmed speakers on the conference agenda include Andrew Bailey, Governor of the Bank of England; Richard Cook, Senior Director for Economics at Pegasus Group; Andrew Cockcroft, Head of Stakeholder Relations and Social Impact at EDF Energy; Catherine Howe, Chief Executive of Dorset Council; Louise Kempton, Professor of Urban and Regional Policy, University of Newcastle, and more. Opening and closing remarks will come from Tom Stannard, Chair of the Institute of Economic Development.

Nigel Wilcock, Executive Director for the iED, said: “The economic development sector faces a specific set of challenges, just like every other industry, but the quality and number of entries submitted this year proves that despite those obstacles, there is fantastic work taking place up and down the country.

“To have received the highest number of entries to date shows professionals in the space are keener than ever to shout about the ways in which they’re breaking down boundaries, setting new benchmarks for success, and creating spaces that genuinely improve lives, which is inspiring to see.

“This year’s awards will be a celebration of all that’s been achieved in the last 12 months in the pursuit of good growth.   Congratulations to those who have made it through to our shortlist, and thank you to everyone who took the opportunity to enter.

“We would also like to express our gratitude to our event sponsors, as well as our conference partners SmartPath by Smarter Society; Mott MacDonald; Pegasus Group; Amion, and our media partner, the Local Government Chronicle.”

Book your place for the iED Awards Dinner here. There are still several conference and awards partner packages available.