Entries are now open for the BESA Awards 2024

The BESA Awards are back!

After an overwhelmingly positive response following last year’s awards, we are thrilled to announce the BESA Awards are returning this year, celebrating our members’ excellence and championing the best of our industry so we can all be inspired and learn from colleagues, as well as recognising the positive impact BESA members have on raising educational outcomes of children around the world.

But that’s not all, we have more than 10 categories for this year’s iteration! These awards recognise individual and team achievements, leadership, innovative initiatives, and the measurable impact of their products and services on education. Winners will be unveiled at BESA’s annual Summer Business Insight Day on Thursday, 4 July. 

The BESA Awards are FREE to enter and open exclusively to BESA members. 

The deadline to submit your entry is Friday, 10 May 2024.

Interested in being a category sponsor for the BESA Awards? Click here to find out more.

Key dates for your diary

• • Entries open: 18th March 2024
  • Entries close: 10th May 2024
  • Ceremony: 4th July 2024 at Summer Business Insight Day

BESA 2024 Awards Categories

Rising Star Award

Nominate the member of your team who has made a key contribution to your organisation this year. We are looking for exceptional talent, those who are in the early stages of their career or who are new to the industry. We are not just looking for high-flyers, we would also like to hear about the individuals who display the values that make them key members of your team. We think these people will have a stellar future ahead of them and would like to use this award to recognise their potential.

Team of the Year

This award is for teams both big and small. You could nominate a department, project team, or simply an informal group within your organisation as long as you can demonstrate exceptional teamwork and collaboration. We are looking for those teams who are greater than the sum of their parts; for groups who have worked together seamlessly and in a way that has delivered real value or service to your company or your customers. Tell us what makes this team so great.

Inspirational Leader Award

Great leaders command respect, inspire their colleagues, lead by example and deliver outstanding results. Do you know a leader worthy of the BESA Inspirational Leader Award?

We are looking for those CEOs, managers and industry leaders who bring out the best in their people, who offer amazing insights, provide clarity and direction and who are blazing a trail in the industry.

Make the Difference Award

This award is all about initiatives that are making a difference in your organisation.

Have you made improvements to your Diversity & Inclusion policies and working practices? Are you working to reduce your carbon footprint? Have you taken fundraising to a new level? Or perhaps you have launched a whole new Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) workstream. Whatever it is that you are doing to make a positive impact on the world, we would love to hear it. We are looking to champion and recognise those initiatives that are worth shouting about so that others can learn from your achievements.

Evidence and Impact Award

The BESA logo is a seal of approval and a kitemark of quality.

Every one of our members is striving to support teachers and deliver improved outcomes for pupils. The ability to evidence the way in which we are doing this is essential. This award recognises those organisations who can demonstrate the impact that their products and services are making on teachers and learners in the UK and overseas.

Women in Education Award

Honour the trailblazers who are shaping the future of education.

This award recognises a remarkable woman for her ground-breaking contributions to the industry. Celebrate the innovators who are driving inclusion, impact, and excellence in education.

School and Supplier Award

Celebrate the power of collaboration between suppliers and schools.

This award is for partnerships that demonstrate outstanding innovation, service, and impact on educational outcomes between a supplier and school. If your collaboration has brought about significant improvements in learning experiences or environments, we want to spotlight your success.

Unsung Hero Award

Shine a light on the individuals whose tireless efforts and dedication could go unnoticed.

Whether a team member or a customer, this award honors those whose exceptional support has been crucial to your business’s growth and success, making them the true backbone of our industry.

Best Place to Work

This Award recognises organisations that foster an environment where excellence is pursued. 

We are looking for organisations cultivating a culture of trust and openness, recognising contributions and achievements, and supporting diversity, inclusion and wellbeing.

Outstanding Support Service

This award recognises excellence in service provision to education institutions.

From finance to IT services, and compliance to safeguarding, this award is for those delivering indispensable support that enables educational institutions to thrive.

Outstanding Educational Resource

Recognising top-tier educational materials and resources, from innovative learning materials to essential classroom furniture.

This award celebrates the resources that play a crucial role in enriching educational environments and experiences.

Submit your entry here

The BESA Awards are FREE to enter and open exclusively to BESA members. 

The deadline to submit your entry is Friday, 10 May 2024.

Meet the judges for this year’s awards:

Ann Mroz MBE
Former Editor of TES (Times Educational Supplement)
and Times Higher Education

Ann is a trustee of the charities Shine, the Institute for Research in Schools, the Academies Enterprise Trust and the Reach Foundation. She is on the education advisory group of the Sutton Trust, the advisory board of the Children’s Commissioner and the advisory board of the Education Policy Institute.

Professor Rose Luckin
Professor at UCL and Founder/CEO of EVR Ltd 

Rose Luckin is renowned for her research into Artificial Intelligence and education. She was named one of the 20 most influential people in education in the Seldon List 2017, and was winner of the ISTE Impact Award 2023. Rose is frequently asked to provide expert evidence to policy makers, in both Houses of the UK Parliament, the European Commission and further afield.

 

Nic Ponsford
CEO & Founder of the Global Equality Collective (GEC)

Nic is passionate about creating a level playing field for everyone in education, but especially those from underserved groups. In 2017, Nic set up the Global Equality Collective (GEC) to address diversity and inclusion. Nic is a Harvard-published author and Director of EdtechUK. Nic has lead on DfE edtech and inclusion projects, such as the Assistive Technology Pilot and Programme. Nic is also Co-Deputy Head of Education at ‘Be ThAT Teacher’ initiative.

 

Frank Suttie
Director, Freeths LLP

Frank Suttie is a Director in the commercial team at Freeths LLP. He is a graduate in both accountancy and law, with corporate finance legal training and now specialising in commercial law with particular emphasis upon the requirements of the EdTech sector. His practice includes businesses operating in the education and skills sectors.

 

Gavin Hawkins
Director & Co-Founder, Squirrel Learning

 

  In 2018 Gavin formed Squirrel Learning Limited to support schools to embed technology across the curriculum. Squirrel Learning has developed a range of literacy-based applications and creates resources and professional development programmes designed to support schools in their approach to EdTech.

 

 

Thea Wiltshire
EdTech, Schools and Early Years Specialist, Department for Business and Trade

Thea Wiltshire is the EdTech, Schools and Early Years Specialist at the Department for Business and Trade. Thea has been working in the education sector for nearly a decade, focusing on EdTech across schools, higher education, and workplace upskilling with experience including partnership development, curriculum development, and educational program planning in the UK, USA, North Africa, and the Middle East.

Natalie is the Membership and Engagement Manager at the Council of British International Schools (COBIS), a membership organisation for high quality British international schools and educational suppliers. She joined COBIS after 10 years in the publishing industry in sales and marketing roles.

Greg was foremerly Chief Executive of GL Education (aka GL Assessment), a leading provider of diagnostic and formative assessment for UK and international schools, multi-academy trusts and international school groups now part of Renaissance Learning, the leading US edtech provider, in early 2023.

Jim is the Chair of trust board of E-Act Multi Academy Trust, and chair designate of the Council of British International Schools. He is a board member of Century-Tech, MACAT International and Educate Ventures Research Ltd, he sits on advisory bodies for Nord Anglia Education, Pearson and BETT. As a government minister and MP, Jim’s portfolios included rural affairs, schools, digital and employment.  He was a member of Gordon Brown’s Cabinet, before joining the Lords in 2010.  He regularly speaks in the Lords on education and technology policy.

Katie Blainey
Head of Delivery and Product, Hubbub Fundraising

Katie is Head of Delivery and Product at Hubbub Fundraising who provide software and services to the education sector. Prior to that she had over 20 years’ experience in publishing and product spanning primary, secondary and the independent sector publishing print and digital resources and assessments for Hodder Education.

Don’t forget to book your ticket for Summer Business Insight Day where we will unveil the winners and celebrate their incredible achievements!

If you’re interested in sponsoring a category for the BESA Awards, click here to find out more. For sponsoring opportunities with any BESA events, please contact EventsTeam@besa.org.uk.

Watch our video of BESA’s 2023 Awards Ceremony, if you enter this year it could be you!