BESA Awards & Forum 2025: Celebrating Best Practice

Celebrating excellence in UK educational suppliers

Join us for an inspiring afternoon of thought-provoking sessions, engaging with industry leaders, and celebrating excellence at the BESA Awards & Forum 2025: Celebrating Best Practice. Taking place on Thursday, 10 July 2025, this prestigious event offers a perfect blend of insightful discussions, recognition of outstanding achievements, and valuable networking opportunities.

The day includes a keynote session, a formal awards ceremony, structured networking, and a delightful drinks reception with canapés, all complemented by an exquisite 2-course lunch

Thank you to our Sponsors

Agenda

11:00am
Arrival

11:30am
BESA Awards Begins – Welcome Speech

11:35am
Structured Networking

1:05pm
Keynote Speaker – Sir Steve Lancashire

1:35pm
The Current Affairs of Education – Nicola Beckford

2:05pm
Lunch

3:05pm
Special Acknowledgements

3:10pm
Sponsor Speech

3:20pm
Awards Ceremony

4:14pm
Closing Remarks: Thank you and BESA Awards End

4:17pm
Award Winner Photos

4:22pm
Unstructured Networking

5:30pm
Event Closes

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Host

Nicola Beckford

Nicola Beckford’s outstanding career includes presenting BBC Midlands Today’s main bulletin at 1830, as well as Woman’s Hour on BBC Radio 4 and BBC television news bulletins in Bristol and Cambridge. She has more than a decade’s experience in broadcasting and was one of the first BBC journalists in the UK to discover the power of the Freedom of Information Act to uncover stories.

As a reporter she was keen to tell the stories of people who are not usually heard. In fact – this dedication and commitment to journalism has influenced the government to make permanent changes in UK law. In 2012 Nicola revealed on BBC Radio 4’s The World at One, how hundreds of children were being detained in police cells because of a shortage of mental health hospital beds. This story led to a change to the Mental Health Act.

Whilst reporting for the BBC Six O’Clock news, Nicola also uncovered how hundreds of hospital patients in England were victims of life changing “never events” – these being preventable errors considered so serious the NHS says they should never happen. As a result, she was invited to speak at conferences in the UK and internationally including at the Health and Safety Executive, the Foreign Office and at the Scottish Parliament.

Nicola’s previous experience includes working as a secondary school teacher in inner city schools where she was determined to encourage her students to achieve their best. Passionate about education, she spent years encouraging young people from disadvantaged backgrounds to fulfil their potential in her home city of Birmingham

Keynote Speaker

Sir Steve Lancashire

Sir Steve Lancashire is the founder and former Chief Executive of REAch2 Academy Trust, England’s largest primary multi-academy trust. With over 35 years in education, including 20 years as a Headteacher in some of the country’s most challenging settings, he led REAch2’s growth to 60 schools serving disadvantaged communities.

A National Leader of Education, Sir Steve has supported schools across the UK and advised internationally in countries including Afghanistan, Singapore, the United States, and the UAE. He was the lead adviser for the Department for Education’s London Challenge and led the acclaimed ‘Good to Outstanding’ programme, impacting over 100 schools.

Knighted in the Queen’s New Year’s Honours list in 2016 for services to education, Sir Steve has been a key figure in national education reform.

He now works with MATs nationwide, coaching CEOs and senior leaders in leadership development, school improvement, culture building, curriculum design, and review.

Getting to the Venue

Closest tube stations

Moorgate or Old Street (5 minute walk)

Closest train station

Liverpool Street (10-15 minute walk)

Closest car park

NCP Finsbury Square (3-4 minute walk)