As a leading Birmingham events venue, the NCC has extensive knowledge in hosting awards evenings and celebration events. We’re sharing our secrets to make sure your evening goes off without a hitch.
Whether it be champagne and cocktails, or a corporate awards ceremony, the NCC has you covered. We love hosting events of any size, from a dozen attendees to a thousand.
The components to a successful awards event start with careful planning and execution of certain key elements. If you want to leave a lasting impression on your guests, this article is for you. Let’s dive in to the top 10 secrets you need to plan and host an awards evening.
Secret 1: Set a budget for Your Awards Evening
As an event planner, the first thing you need in mind is a budget. Having a budget helps you and your event planner stay organised and make informed decisions when it comes to allocating resources. It ensures you don’t go overboard with your expenses, allowing you to prioritise what is most important for your event.
By establishing a clear budget from the outset, you and your event planner can work together to create a successful event that meets your goals and objectives, without breaking the bank.
Secret 2: Find the Venue Your Award Night Deserves
Choosing the right venue is one of the most important factors in hosting a successful awards evening. It helps set out the scene! Also, successful venue planning unlocks a plethora of opportunities, such as:
- Creating a memorable event
- Delicious banquets to dazzle your guests
- Enhanced entertainment options
- Simple and stress-free logistics
The right venue should offer all the services you’re looking for, including a dedicated team to help you on the night. At the National Conference Centre, we pride ourselves on having as much – or as little – involvement as you want.
Secret 3: Prepare as Much as You Can
From coming up with the concepts of what you want at the awards evening to the moment you’re giving a speech on stage, planning is crucial. As Benjamin Franklin famously said, “by failing to prepare, you are preparing to fail.”
Preparing helps you manage your event by ensuring everything is organised. It reduces stress by minimising unexpected issues that can arise during the event.
Getting an event planner to prepare for you can be highly beneficial. Their expertise, experience and industry knowledge can streamline the planning process. With their help, you can focus on the bigger picture and enjoy the event itself, knowing that everything has been taken care of.
NCC has an excellent reputation for event planning and you’re assigned a dedicated events planner the moment your booking is confirmed. Our experienced and attentive team are always on hand to help make your awards ceremony one to remember.
Secret 4: Take Advantage of Technology
Technology is a big part of a smooth, flawless event (as long as it works properly). The use of audio and visual equipment can make an awards event look and sound great; a make or break for a successful awards evening.
Making sure everyone is heard throughout the room is also important. With a proper microphone and speaker setup, you guarantee that everyone is heard. Additionally, the audiovisual display helps to make your awards night visually stunning, making it a night to remember for your guests.
Secret 5: Set the Right Time for Your Awards Night
When it comes to establishing a time for your awards evening, make sure you choose a time that’s convenient for everyone. This means being proactive and organising a time when everyone is available. Of course, the more notice you give people, the better chance you have of all attendees being able to make it.
Secret 6: Set a Theme For Your Awards Ceremony
Themes for award ceremonies can make up a big part of your evening, but choosing the right theme can be a challenge. If you want to make your event attract attention, it’s important to think outside the box.
Here are some unique themes for awards ceremonies:
- James Bond theme
- Wild west
- The Great Gatsby
- Pirate and sailor theme
- Oktoberfest theme
- Masquerade ball
Secret 7: Honour Someone Exceptional
Honouring someone most deserving of an award is a great way to make them feel special. Whether it’s a lifetime great award or just a shout-out, place the spotlight on an individual and spend extra time giving them recognition.
Secret 8: Livestream the Awards Evening
One way to increase awareness and spread your net even wider is to Livestream your event. There are many live-streaming platforms, (namely YouTube and Facebook) and by live-streaming the awards, you can maximise engagement and turn your small event into a global one.
In order to make this work, you’ll need to make sure that you have all the right technology in place, this means having a good camera, microphone etc.
Forbes has a great must-haves list for livestreaming, which you may find useful to look at.
Secret 9: Present Your Awards and Trophies Meaningfully
Receiving an award is always a special personal achievement. Personalising your trophy presentation is one way to make your awards event as meaningful and memorable as possible.
These are just some of the ways we’ve found to make the moment feel unique and special for the award recipient:
- Begin award shopping early – it’s the best way to secure custom trophies
- Customise the awards
- Acknowledge the contributions of team players
- Plan a personalised speech
- Give personalised recognition to the recipient
- Issue a certificate of achievement
Hosting an Awards Evening With the NCC
At the NCC, we understand each awards evening is unique. Our team of experienced event planners works with you every step of the way to ensure your vision is brought to life.
We provide a range of catering options to suit any taste or dietary requirement, and our audio and visual equipment is top-of-the-line, guaranteeing nobody’s achievements will be silenced on the big night.
Are you ready to host a successful awards evening that will leave a lasting impression on your guests? Contact the NCC, Birmingham’s leading conference centre, to help you plan and execute your event flawlessly.
