UEL Festival gets nomination nod for coveted awards

The University of East London has been nominated for Communicate magazine’s Internal Communications and Engagement Awards, for its outstanding Royal Docks Innovation and Enterprise 125th Anniversary Summer Festival.

Held last May to celebrate UEL's 125th anniversary, the festival has been recognised in the 'Best Internal Communications from the Education and Public Event' category for its innovative approach and impact on the University community and beyond.  

The festival, themed around sustainability, sport, health tech, and equality, diversity and inclusion showcased UEL's commitment to preparing career-ready graduates while making a positive social impact. This year’s event saw significantly larger crowds than previous years, with surveys showing overwhelmingly positive feedback from those who attended.

Charlotte White, UEL’s Events Manager, said, 

We are delighted that the Royal Docks Innovation and Enterprise Festival has been shortlisted for this award. This is one of UEL’s annual flagship events, which focuses on celebrating our work and inviting all our stakeholders to recognise these achievements with us.

“The 125th-anniversary summer festival was our largest summer festival yet, featuring immersive activities from different parts of the University, including students from our School of Arts and Creative Industries taking over the main stage, robotic showcases from the School of Architecture, Computing and Engineering, a legal advice clinic display from Royal Docks School of Business & Law, and so much more.

“It is great that our work is being recognised in the sector and I look forward to strengthening relationships with internal and external partners.”

The festival featured a host of activities and attractions, including a student-led main stage takeover, a diversity of thought summit, and cutting-edge showcases, all highlighting UEL’s innovative spirit and links with its surrounding communities.

A standout feature of the festival was the immersive water show on the Dockland's waterfront, creatively narrating UEL's 125-year history and future aspirations through projection, jet fountains and music. This ambitious production was an overwhelming success receiving a positive response from attendees, with 80% expressing high satisfaction levels.

UEL’s targeted engagement initiatives and use of social media ensured a wide variety of people came to the festival, with the event's success leading to increased interest and higher attendance at subsequent UEL events.

The organisers of the Internal Communications and Engagement Awards, Communicate magazine, say the prizes celebrate excellence in internal communications strategies, serving to drive business performance and fostering both internal and community engagement. The winners will be announced at an awards ceremony in London on 11 June.