over 40 years of success

The Sunday Times Grant Thornton Top Track 250 league table ranks Britain’s private mid-market growth companies with the biggest sales. It is compiled by Fast Track and published in The Sunday Times each October. This year, the NEC Group are proud to have been ranked as No.186 in this league table.

The Sunday Times Grant Thornton Top Track 250 league table ranks Britain’s private mid-market growth companies with the biggest sales. It is compiled by Fast Track and published in The Sunday Times each October. This year, the NEC Group are proud to have been ranked as No.186 in this league table.

The NEC was once again named ‘Venue of the Year’ at the AEO Excellence Awards by demonstrating how the venue hosts 155 exhibitions, 500 events for over 6million visitors a year, making the NEC the UK’s No 1 venue.

The NEC Operations team won ‘Venue Team of the Year’ for the second consecutive year at the AEO Excellence Awards. The submission demonstrated how the team deliver smooth, seamless services and support for visitors, exhibitors and organisers so they have a great NEC experience - and can focus on making the most of their events.

The biggest awards of their kind in the hospitality industry, the internationally renowned Cateys recognise the strongest performers, latest emerging brands and highest flyers in the sector, as determined by the industry itself.

The NEC won the ‘Most Versatile Venue’ at the inaugural National Venue Awards, demonstrating the venues ability to host a wide range of exhibitions, conferences, live events and attractions.

The Group’s winning submission focused on the fact that people are at the heart of the NEC Group and realising their potential forms a key pillar of the Group’s HR strategy. 

The industry leading FSM Awards bring together over 400 of the contract catering elite to pay tribute to outstanding individuals. The Senior Executive of the Year award went to Kevin Watson, Managing Director of Amadeus.

The BCVA awards are an annual celebration of UK companies, recognising and rewarding brilliant businesses that have been backed by UK private equity and venture capital investors. The NEC Group were announced as Large Company Management Team of the Year (Midlands).

The West Midlands Business Master Awards honoured the NEC Group with the award for Large Business of the Year and the Group also shortlisted in the Employer of the Year category.

NEC Group CEO Paul Thandi was awarded the coveted Ambassador of the Year title at the West Midlands Business Masters Awards.

Paul Thandi, NEC Group CEO, was recognised as an entrepreneur inspired to make the world of work a better place at the EY Entrepreneur Of The Year 2017, UK Awards. 

The Exhibition News Awards recognise the achievements of individuals and companies that power the exhibition industry.

This award, presented by UFI – The Global Association of the Exhibition Industry, was the NEC’s first step onto the global stage. The submission focused on the NEC’s successful approach to creating the perfect customer journey.

The much-coveted AEO award for Venue Team of the Year, was awarded to the NEC Operational team who seamlessly coordinate 500 events on an annual basis.

The AEO Innovation Award recognised an incredibly creative marketing campaign, delivered in a sports shoebox that included Fitbit technology, 3D direct mail and a clever video that put the NEC in their customers’ shoes and took them on a journey around the venue.

The Event Production Awards recognise and celebrate the hard work and achievements of key suppliers and contractors to the industry. The Ticket Factory’s entry focused on innovation in disabled booking and the online customer experience.

Amadeus were awarded the prestigious ‘Event/Stadia/Arena Award’ at a ceremony which celebrates excellence across the foodservice and catering industry.

The Birmingham Post Business Awards celebrate the best businesses in the city which have delivered success for themselves, their staff and their customers. NEC Group CEO Paul Thandi was awarded the coveted Business Entrepreneur of the Year title while Amplify won the Sales and Marketing Award. The Group was also shortlisted in the Company of the Year category.

The prestigious C&IT Awards pride themselves on being the ‘definitive awards for B2B events’. The ICC submission capitalised on a standout year in 2016 during which the venue hosted 464 events and maintained a 9.2/10 recommendation score with 97% of organisers saying they would return. The venue was also awarded TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence in both 2016 and 2017.

The awards celebrate sports and leisure caterers taking food and beverage to new heights in this fast-paced and inventive industry. Amadeus won the Executive Chef of the Year title and overall Sport & Leisure Caterer of the Year following a record-breaking year for the company.

The Foodservice Cateys celebrate contract catering employees across the UK. They recognise and reward those individuals and teams that work tirelessly to make sure their business delivers an exceptional service day in, day out. The focus of this winning submission was leadership in development of The Edge restaurant.

In its 40th birthday year, the NEC was awarded the prestigious ‘Venue of the Year’ award at the AEO Excellence Awards, which showcases the best that the events industry. The NEC demonstrated why it is still venue of choice amongst organisers and the support and service provided continues to exceeds expectations.

The Live UK Music Business Awards is one of the arena industry’s most prestigious award ceremonies. A panel of industry professionals shortlisted the Barclaycard Arena for its team’s dedication to delivering shows throughout the 18 month redevelopment of the entertainment venue. The shortlist was then taken to a public vote, where the Arena beat off competition from fellow category finalists The O2, London and Capital FM Arena, Nottingham.

The industry leading BIFM Awards recognise and showcase best in class facilities management and evidence its impact on business, the economy and society. This was the NEC’s fourth award in two years for its work to minimise the negative impact its operations have on the environment.

The M&IT awards are designed to recognise excellence in the industry and are voted for by event organisers and readers of Meetings and Incentive Travel magazine. The venue won bronze in 2014.