The Event Supplier and Services Association (ESSA) has announced the shortlist for its 2022 annual awards, which recognises innovation and excellence within the event sector supply chain.

The ESSA Awards have been honouring the sector’s talent since 2017 and this year will see the introduction of a new Sustainability category to acknowledge the rising importance of the topic. Two additional categories will make a return for 2022 – ESSA Unsung Hero and Innovation of the Year (Tech/Non-Tech) – taking the total number of categories to eight for 2022, the most to date.

The winners will receive their honours at the annual ESSA dinner taking place on 8 December at the Forest of Arden Country Club Hotel, Birmingham in conjunction with its headline sponsors beMatrix and Abraxys Global.

ESSA director Andrew Harrison said: “The ESSA Awards are bigger and better this year to reflect the phenomenal work our members have achieved during the past 12 months despite the enormous challenges the industry continues to face. It’s heartening to see key areas such as health and safety, sustainability and innovation at the top of the agenda, with a determination by so many to grow and evolve in order to remain market leaders and lead by example, which has only made the job of judging that much harder.”

Nine judges from across the industry and the media narrowed down the final shortlist. The 2022 ESSA Awards finalists are:

ESSA Young Person Award 2022 – sponsored by Rocket Exhibition Services

  • Ellen Stokes – Be Exhibitions
  • Imogen Smith – The Event Exhibition Partnership
  • Joe Faichnie – Rocket Exhibition Services
  • Josh Bowers – Creative8
  • Kane Simpson – Abraxys Global

ESSA Member Company Award 2022 ‍- sponsored by Beechwood Event Flooring

  • Abraxys Global
  • Exhibit 3Sixty
  • Full Circle Event & Exhibition
  • GES
  • Human Built
  • Press Red

ESSA Unsung Hero 2022  – sponsored by InEvexco

  • Elise O’Dwyer – The Barista
  • Josh Bailey – Beechwood Event Flooring
  • Kat Allso – PSP Exhibitions

Innovation of the Year 2022 (Tech/Non-Tech) ‍- sponsored by Briggs Equipment

  • Rego Smart Stands
  • Barmotion

Sustainability – sponsored by BeMatrix UK

  • GES
  • Icon Exhibitions & Display
  • Ignition DG
  • Macro Art
  • Skyline Whitespace
  • The Barista

Best organiser 2022 – sponsored by Immersive AV

  • Clarion Events
  • CloserStill Media
  • DMG Events
  • RX
  • Montgomery Group

Best venue 2022 – sponsored by Macro Art

  • ACC Liverpool
  • Business Design Centre
  • ExCeL London
  • Manchester Central Complex
  • NEC
  • Olympia London

ESSA Outstanding Contribution to the Industry Award 2022  – sponsored by Abraxys Global

The winner of this award will be announced on the night.