February in Review: Awards, Industry Connection and Learning at the Heart of London's Event Industry.
- The Event School London
- Feb 28
- 6 min read
Updated: 1 day ago
February was a landmark month for The Event School London, bringing together student achievement, industry collaboration, live event delivery, behind-the-scenes venue tours and the launch of a new regulated qualification pathway for the events industry.
It was also a milestone month for the School itself, as we celebrated our 21st anniversary and continued to mark more than two decades of specialist event education in London.
Awards for Excellence 2026
A major highlight of February was our Awards for Excellence 2026, held on 23 February at Novotel London ExCeL.
The Awards brought together students, graduates, lecturers, industry partners and advisory board members to celebrate achievement across The Event School London community. The evening recognised academic excellence, graduate success, industry contribution and the many relationships that help connect our students to the wider events sector.
For graduates and industry guests, the evening provided an opportunity to reconnect, share insight and celebrate the progression of talent within the events industry.
Learning by delivering: students take responsibility for a live event
February gave our Event Management students the opportunity to move from planning theory into live delivery.
As part of their Professional Practice studies, students were involved in planning and supporting a multi-component event that included the Awards Ceremony, the 2026 Industry Advisory Board meeting, the launch of our new regulated diploma pathway, and a professional photo and video shoot.
This gave students direct experience of the complexity involved in bringing several event elements together within one carefully managed programme. They worked on logistics, guest experience, communications, venue liaison, media planning, timings and event flow.
It was a powerful example of learning by doing, and an important professional milestone for the students involved.
Industry Advisory Board: first meeting of 2026
February also saw the first meeting of our refreshed Industry Advisory Board for 2026.
The Board brought together senior professionals from across the events industry to contribute insight into current industry expectations, future skills needs and the direction of event management education.
Their perspective is especially important as the events sector continues to evolve, with employers seeking graduates who are commercially aware, operationally capable and confident in professional environments. Advisory board members also attended the Awards for Excellence later that day, further strengthening the connection between industry engagement, student achievement and the School’s future direction.
Launching the ATHE Level 4 to 7 Ofqual-regulated Diplomas in Event Management
One of the most significant moments of the month was the launch of our new ATHE Level 4 to Level 7 Ofqual-regulated Diplomas in Event Management.
The announcement marked an important step forward for event management education in England, creating a structured and recognised qualification pathway for those looking to enter, progress within or lead in the events industry.
Alongside the launch of the wider qualification suite, February also marked the second month of study for the pilot cohort on the ATHE Level 5 Diploma in Events Management.
Short Course Season - Winter Programme
February was also a strong month for our Winter Term short course delivery, with students studying across several specialist areas of event education.
Courses included:
Certificate in Event Management, led by Nick Oxborrow
Certificate in Wedding Planning, led by Siobhan Craven-Robins
Certificate in Sports Event Management, led by Alex Spargo
Certificate in Leadership and Management, led by Rachel Williams
Each course offered focused, face-to-face learning with lecturers who bring current industry experience into the classroom. Students explored practical planning principles, sector-specific insight and professional approaches relevant to their chosen area of events.
Hear directly from short course participants on the links below:
Vru - Leadership and Management
Olivia - Sports Event Management
Mariangela - Wedding Planning
Will - Sports Event Management
Samyra - Wedding Planning
Career mentoring and professional insight
Career mentoring continued in February, supporting students as they considered their future direction in the events industry.
Mentors included:
Sharifa Wilkinson, sharing insight from sports and mega events
Emma Murray-Jones, bringing expertise in luxury weddings and events
Georgia Wood, contributing specialist perspective from luxury weddings and events
These mentoring sessions help students reflect on their strengths, clarify career goals and better understand the expectations of different sectors within the industry.
For students at the beginning of their event careers, access to experienced professionals is invaluable. It helps them see the range of possible pathways, from sports and major events to luxury weddings, private events, venue sales and event operations.
Site tours bringing theory to life
Site tours remained central to the student experience in February, giving learners the opportunity to step inside some of London’s most distinctive venues and understand how event spaces operate in practice.
Students visited:
Woods River Cruises Luxury Yacht Event Spaces: luxury floating event spaces on the Thames, offering insight into private events, guest flow and the operational considerations of events on the water.
8 Northumberland Avenue: a historic central London venue with a Ballroom and Old Billiard Room designed to create high-impact corporate, private and immersive event experiences.
IoD 116 Pall Mall: an award-winning Georgian building and the headquarters of the Institute of Directors, used for conferences, weddings, meetings and premium events in central London.
Banqueting House: one of London’s most important historic event spaces, created in 1622 for extravagant Jacobean entertainments and still recognised for its grandeur and heritage.
The Caledonian Club: a prestigious Scottish private members’ club in Belgravia, with elegant Edwardian function rooms, a whisky bar and accommodation.
Hotel Café Royal: a five-star luxury hotel on Regent Street, combining heritage ballrooms, modern hospitality and high-end event spaces in the heart of London.
IET London: Savoy Place: an award-winning Thames-side venue and the headquarters of the Institution of Engineering and Technology, with lecture theatres, flexible event spaces and rooftop terraces.
Cavendish Venues: a dedicated central London conference, meeting and event operator with purpose-built spaces for AGMs, training sessions, exhibitions and corporate events.
Huckletree: a contemporary event space with auditorium, networking lounge, catering and technology support for corporate events and community-led programming.
Jumeirah Carlton Tower London: a five-star hotel with luxury event spaces, including a refurbished Ballroom and Garden Rooms with glass roofs and garden views.
No.11 Cavendish Square: a historic central London venue offering characterful event spaces with modern hybrid-capable technology and on-site fine dining.
The Dilly London: a five-star heritage hotel in Piccadilly with versatile meeting rooms, breakout spaces and event capacity for corporate functions, weddings and celebrations.
Royal Lancaster London: a luxury hotel on the edge of Hyde Park, known for large-scale hospitality, events and impressive views across London.
Wembley Stadium: one of the UK’s most iconic major event venues, offering insight into large-scale event operations, crowd movement, sporting events and live entertainment.
Each visit helped students connect classroom learning to real venue environments. They were able to consider capacity, layout, access, atmosphere, client experience, operations and commercial positioning across a wide range of event settings.
Industry events and sector awareness
Students also attended major industry events in February, including International CONFEX, at Excel London, the UK Wedding Association Educational Event (Safe, Smart, Social at the Hyatt Regency London The Churchill, Events Agents Breakfast at The Ministry and The Event Production Show at Excel London.
These events gave students valuable access to the industry beyond the classroom, allowing them to explore current trends, meet planning professionals, suppliers and venues, and gain a clearer understanding of how different parts of the sector connect.
For students studying events in London, this kind of exposure is a real advantage. Industry events help students start building the professional networks that can support internships, work experience, job opportunities and career progression after graduation.
They also help students develop confidence in professional environments and understand how venues, agencies, suppliers and organisers position themselves within the wider events market.
Celebrating 21 years of The Event School London
February marked a major milestone as The Event School London celebrated its 21st anniversary during the Awards for Excellence 2026.
The celebration brought students, graduates, industry partners, advisory board members, lecturers, families and friends together to recognise more than two decades of specialist event education in London. It was a moment to reflect on the School’s journey since 2005, the achievements of our graduates, and the community that continues to support and shape the student experience.
Celebrated alongside the Awards for Excellence, the anniversary felt especially meaningful: a reminder of the School’s history, its industry connections and its continued commitment to preparing students for successful futures in events.
A month defined by momentum
February was a month of celebration, responsibility and progression.
Students delivered real event activity, engaged with leading venues, attended major industry shows, continued specialist short courses and benefited from career mentoring. At the same time, the School celebrated its 21st anniversary, convened its refreshed Industry Advisory Board and launched a new Ofqual-regulated diploma pathway designed to support the future of event management education.
It was a month that reflected who we are as a School: industry-connected, practically focused and committed to preparing students for the real world of events.
As we move forward through 2026, February will stand as an important milestone, not only in the School’s story, but in the development of a new recognised pathway for aspiring event professionals.
