ABOUT US

The Operational PPP Awards is now in its third year of celebrating the individuals, projects and partnerships that are shaping the industry and the way we deliver infrastructure.

Our inaugural event in 2024 exceeded our expectations and welcomed 400 people to Leeds city centre and last year over 450 travelled to the Celtic Manor in Wales to discover who is leading the field in operational public private partnerships.

For 2026 we are heading to Manchester and are expecting to grow again with an estimated 500 people gathering to celebrate the industry’s achievements.

We believe the Operational PPP Awards and conference play an essential role in helping to spread the word that public private partnerships have a vital role in transforming infrastructure. However, don’t just take our word for it. Some feedback from previous years includes:

I, and lots more that I talked to, thought the whole event, and the awards evening especially, was a great success! It was lovely to see so many people from across the industry, and so many from the various parts of the public sector; such an important element. I’m sure next year will be even better and sought after as word of mouth about it spreads. Thank you, such a great addition to the annual calendar, and wholly relevant!

It was a great event and so good to see friends and colleagues in person. It makes such a difference.

You have certainly hit a sweet spot with the target audience and I was very impressed with the exposure that [we] enjoyed as a sponsor, but equally impressed with the event itself.

It was a fantastic event and well attended.

It was a fabulous summit and thank you for organising it, we were absolutely thrilled with our awards

It was great to catch up with new and familiar faces at the event over the past few days. One of the best I have attended!

We are delighted to have been associated with such a high profile and successful industry event.

What an amazing event! Was amazing to be part of such an inspirational event - there was a true buzz!

An excellent and eagerly anticipated event that definitely did not disappoint!

THE 2026 CATEGORIES

Each year, we review the awards categories, criteria and judging and we are delighted to announce the 2026 categories are:


Project categories:

  • The Public and Private Sector Collaboration Award
  • The Evolution/Innovation Award
  • Expiry Process of the Year
  • Community Engagement of the Year
  • The Small Change - Big Impact Award
  • Operational PPP Project of the Year


People and teams categories:

  • MSP of the Year
  • FM Co of the Year
  • Advisory Team of the Year
  • Authority/Trust Team of the Year
  • The Rising Star Award
  • Individual Contribution of the Year - Public/Private Sector
  • Lifetime achievement of the Year - Public/Private Sector


You can enter the same project into multiple categories. You can also submit entries from previous years BUT these must be entered into a different category.

Enter now

THE VENUE

Previous locations include Leeds and Newport, but this year we head to Manchester and the Deansgate Hotel.

Enjoy stunning city views from Manchester iconic Beetham Tower Nestled in the heart of Manchester's City centre, the 23-storey hotel offers panoramic views over this vibrant and historic city's skyline. Perfectly positioned just steps away from its bustling food and drink scene, shops, and iconic museums, Manchester Arena and Piccadilly Station are also only a mile away.

Enjoy floor-to-ceiling views from your room and unwind at the on-site bar while taking in the sights. For those wishing to relax or stay active away from home, the health club features a fitness centre, indoor pool, sauna, and steam room.

FAQs

There is no limit to the number of entries you can submit.

Yes. We accept joint entries and we encourage public and private sector to work together to submit their project entry

No, you can only submit each project into one category. The exception to this is the ‘Operational PPP Project of the Year’ which can also be entered in addition to one other category.

Yes you can enter the same project multiple years but not in the same category.

There are two stages to the judging process. Stage one is online with approx five people judging each category. There is then a face-to-face meeting with around 20 head judges to decide on any highly commended entries and vote on any tie breaks.

The winners will be announced at the Awards ceremony on 23 November at Manchester Deansgate Hotel.

CONTACT US

If you have questions or need more information, please send us a message and we will get back to you promptly.

info@op3s.com