IED Annual Conference and Awards 2024

Early Bird registrations are now open for the 2024 Institute of Economic Development Annual Conference and Awards Dinner, the UK’s premier in-person event for economic development and regeneration professionals working for local and regional communities.

The IED Annual Conference, which this year will return to BMA House in London on Wednesday 6^th November, is titled Economic Transition – How do we deliver long-lasting change in our towns, cities and regions?

Baroness Sharon Taylor of Stevenage OBE, Shadow Spokesperson for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, is the confirmed opening keynote speaker. Other guest speakers include:

Adam Hawksbee, Deputy Director, Onward
Dame Irene Hays, Director, Hays Travel
Danyal Satter, CEO, Big Issue Invest
James Smith, Research Director, Resolution Foundation
Mel Barrett, Chief Executive, Nottingham City Council
Rachel Rowney, Chief Operating Officer, Local Trust

Tom Stannard, IED Chair, and Chief Executive, Salford City Council; and Bev Hurley CBE, IED Director and Chief Executive, YTKO Group, also feature in the conference programme with further speakers, breakout sessions and panels to be announced in the coming weeks.

Following the one-day conference, the IED Awards Dinner will take place in the Lutyens Suite at BMA House. The awards will once again recognise achievers in the public and private sector through a series of individual, team, and organisational categories. Eight categories are now open for entry and a ninth, Outstanding Contribution to Economic Development, will be selected by the IED Board and expert judging panel.

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

Younger economic development team members aged 30 or under (as of 1^st June 2024) who have demonstrated excellence, commitment, and gone above and beyond in their early career.

Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Champion of the Year

Individuals who 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 Champion of the Year

Individuals who 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.

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.

*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.

*To be selected by Institute of Economic Development Board and expert judging panel.

To enter the awards, individuals/teams should develop a 500-word entry on ‘why they should win’ and a 50-word summary for promotion in the awards programme, together with an optional one page of additional evidence, and submit to admin@ied.co.uk by 5pm on 31^st July.

Details of last year’s winners, and highly commended entries, can be viewed here.

“We are really looking forward to the Annual Conference and Awards Dinner in London, at a venue we know well, following a highly successful event as part of our 40^th anniversary celebrations,” said IED Executive Director Nigel Wilcock. “Further details on our Economic Transition – How do we deliver long-lasting change in our towns, cities and regions? conference programme will be announced as and when speakers and sponsors are confirmed, but in the meantime we encourage members and non-members to take up the Early Bird ticket rates for the Annual Conference, which are available until 27^th June, and to get their submissions in for the Annual Awards.”

To book a place at the conference and / or the awards, please click here.