Institute of Economic Development Announces Contenders for its 2025 Annual Awards Showcase

The shortlist for the iED Annual Awards 2025, which recognise achievers in the public and private sector through a series of individual, team and organisational categories, has been revealed by the Institute of Economic Development.

With almost 60 entries received – a record-breaking number to date – the final nominees for seven iED Annual Awards have now been decided. The winners will be announced at the iED Awards Dinner, which will take place in the Grand Ballroom at The Lowry Hotel in Manchester on 25th November, following the iED Annual Conference on Good Growth: Driving the UK economy with investment in our regions and communities.

Confirmed speakers on the conference agenda include Andy Burnham, Mayor of Greater Manchester; Sarah Longlands, Chief Executive of CLES, the national organisation for local economies; and Catherine Holmes, Assistant Director – North, Homes England.

The nominees for the iED Annual Awards 2025 are:

Leader of the Year – category available to sponsor

Economic development professionals who have demonstrated outstanding leadership and management in their role, and who motivate and inspire their team to achieve success through effective leadership.

• Ben Hawley, Enterprising Barnsley Group Leader, Barnsley Council
• Jo Stevens, Managing Director, Oxford Innovation Space
• Levi Rickell, Managing Director, Rochdale Development Agency (at the time of entry)
• Stuart Barnes, Director – Economic Growth & Housing, Sefton Council

Team of the Year – category available to sponsor

Exceptional economic development teams who have gone above and beyond in ensuring the smooth running and effective delivery of economic development functions in their organisations.

• Economic Development Team, Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council
• Economy & Growth Team, Burnley Council
• Economic Growth & Housing Service, Sefton Council
• Economy Team, Torbay Council

Rising Star of the Year – category available to sponsor

Professionals working in economic development with less than 10 years’ experience, who have demonstrated excellence, commitment and gone above and beyond in their early career.

• Dominic Jones, Economic Policy Development Officer, Barnsley Council
• Matt Brighty, Senior Consultant Economist, Bradshaw Advisory
• Una Foster, Senior Economic Development Officer, Croydon Council
• Nathan Shoesmith, Consultant, GC Insight

Social Value Initiative of the Year – sponsored by The Growth Company

Projects, teams or individuals which have championed and made a significant contribution to social value creation, developing best practice in their field and making positive impacts in their communities. 

• Transforming West Cumbria, Sellafield Ltd & Cumbria Community Foundation
• East Riding of Yorkshire Council
• High Streets Heritage Action Zone programme, Historic England
• North London Heat and Power Project, North London Waste Authority Social Value Team

Most Innovative Project of the Year – category available to sponsor

Innovative economic development projects which have pushed the boundaries beyond traditional approaches and delivered additional beneficial outcomes as a result of the innovation.

• Embedding Good Growth Principles into programme design and UKSPF delivery in Cornwall and Isles of Scilly, Cornwall Council
• Kindred, Liverpool City Region
• The Solent Digital Marketing Skills Bootcamps, YTKO and Solent Partners

Collaborative Initiative of the Year – sponsored by Recurve Solutions

Outstanding cross-sector economic development collaboration between two or more partners drawn from local authorities, private sector, third sector, business and academia.

• Industrial Solutions Hub, Cumberland Council
• Leeds Manufacturing Festival 2025, run by the Leeds Manufacturing Alliance
• Data-Driven Innovation, University of Edinburgh and Heriot-Watt University

Outstanding Impact – sponsored by Pegasus Group

For projects delivered and concluded in the last five years, which demonstrate benchmarked evidence against other similar initiatives. Impacts could include environmental, social, business support (from start-up to growth and scale), rural development and regeneration.

• Empowering Communities through Social Value, East Riding of Yorkshire Council
• Reinvigorating Bootle – Salt and Tar, Sefton Council
• Haringey High Growth Business Programme (HGBP), Haringey Council in partnership with YTKO

A further award, Outstanding Contribution to Economic Development, will be announced on the evening to recognise an individual who has made a sustained outstanding contribution to the field of economic development.

“We are delighted with the quality and quantity of entries received for the IED Annual Awards 2025, and shortlisting has been incredibly challenging this year,” said iED Executive Director Nigel Wilcock. “Congratulations to those who have made it through, and thanks to everyone who has taken the opportunity to enter. We would also like to express our gratitude to Arup, Lichfields, The Growth Company, Pegasus Group, AMION Consulting and Recurve Solutions as our conference/award partners, and our media partner Local Government Chronicle, with a range of opportunities for Event Partner and Awards Partner packages still available.”

Book your place for the iED Awards Dinner here