UEL nominated for prestigious SABRE Award

A festival organised by the University of East London’s (UEL) events team has been nominated for a coveted SABRE award. The awards recognise excellence in public relations, engagement, credibility and relationship building.  

The nomination, in the category of Special Event, United Kingdom, Large Budget, recognises the outstanding work of the team in organising the Royal Docks Innovation and Enterprise 125th Anniversary Summer Festival, held in May 2023 to celebrate UEL’s 125th anniversary.

The festival, held at UEL's Docklands campus, was a showcase of innovation, enterprise, and community engagement. Designed to connect with a variety of stakeholders, including local communities, business partners, students, alumni and staff, the event showcased UEL's commitment to producing career-ready graduates and making a meaningful social impact in east London and beyond.

Featuring student-led performances, diversity of thought summits, cutting-edge robot displays and an immersive water display which told the 125-year story of UEL using projectors, jet fountains and sound, the festival encapsulated UEL's ethos of fostering creativity and inclusivity.  

The festival also served as a celebration of UEL's history in east London, reaffirming its ties with diverse communities and its pivotal role in providing educational opportunities for more than century.

UEL Events Manager Charlotte White said, “We are thrilled that the Royal Docks Innovation and Enterprise Summer Festival has made it to the final selection for this prestigious award. This event represents a cornerstone of our yearly calendar at UEL, dedicated to celebrating our achievements and engaging all our stakeholders in this recognition.

Our 125th anniversary summer festival was the most expansive to date, showcasing immersive experiences from across the University. Highlights included performances by students from our School of Arts and Creative Industries on the main stage, robotics demonstrations from the School of Architecture, Computing and Engineering, a legal advice clinic hosted by the Royal Docks School of Business & Law, and much more.

“It's a great honour to see our efforts acknowledged within the industry, and I look forward to further strengthening our connections with both our internal and external partners."

As well as celebrating UEL’s anniversary, the festival achieved several key objectives including strengthening relationships with external stakeholders, increasing awareness about UEL, and creating a sense of belonging within the University community.  

Organised by Provoke Media, the SABRE Awards are much prized within the public relations industry, with 2,000 entries for them received this year. The winners of the awards will be announced at a special gala night in London on 17 April.