FE First Awards 2024

Celebrating the Success of Marketing in Further Education

The FE First Awards celebrates the achievements of marketing teams and individuals in colleges and sixth forms from across the country. The prestigious event, highly regarded in the sector, is the only awards to solely celebrate marketing in the further education arena.

The awards are open to all further education colleges and sixth forms, and you don’t have to be a member of the College Marketing Network to enter.

When? Monday 29 January 2024 from 7pm
Where? Crowne Plaza Hotel, Birmingham City Centre

Award entry deadline: 17 November 2023
Finalists announced: w/c 11 December 2023

FE First Awards 2024 categories:

• Low Budget Campaign Award (Budget £2000 or less)
• Internal Impact Award
• Events Management Award
• Social & Digital Media Impact Award
• Website Development Award
• Innovation & Creativity Award
• Communications Campaign Award
• Targeted Recruitment Campaign Award
• Prospectus Award
• Green Marketing Award (Sustainability Impact)
• Rising Star Award*
• Marketing Superstar Award*
• Marketing Team of the Year (Large Team – 6 FTE members or more)*
• Marketing Team of the Year (Small Team – 5 FTE members of less)*
• Best of the Best 2022**

_{* These categories are only open to colleges in current membership of The College Marketing Network at the time of the awards
** Judged from the winners in each category by The College Marketing Network}

---

How to Enter

Step 1:

Download the award category entry form(s) and decide which award(s) you are going to enter.

(CMN Members can download from SharePoint)

STEP 2:

Complete and submit the Awards Application Form

STEP 3

Write your award entry – remember, your entry will be judged only by the information you submit so make sure you include all the details that make your entry a winner!

STEP 4

Once your entry is written and ready to be submitted, email your entry to emma@m-network.org

Email each award entry separately with ‘FE First Awards Entry: [Name of category]’ as the email subject.

Please note, an Awards Application Form must be submitted before your award entries.

Entry fees

The awards are FREE to enter for CMN member colleges.

Non-member colleges: £125 per award entry.

Payment can be by PO or online – please select when you submit the Awards Application Form

---

FE First Awards Gala Dinner 

The gala dinner is a formal event, starting with a drinks reception, followed by a three course meal, and then the awards presentation. Dress code is formal, black tie optional but encouraged.

Tickets

Tickets are priced at £90 per person for CMN members and £145 per person for non-members.

Payment can be by PO or online.

Accommodation & Travel

If you wish to stay the night you can book a room directly with the Crowne Plaza hotel, or you may find it cheaper on travel sites. If booking direct, the rate for B&B is £147 pp.

Alternatively, there are other hotels near by offering cheaper rates.

Travelling by train: Birmingham’s Grand Central station is only 0.2 miles from the hotel.

Travelling by car: Please be aware of Birmingham’s clean air zone. There are three car parks located near the hotel:

• Crowne Plaza Car Park – Arena Central Car Park, Holliday Street, B1 1TQ.
  £21 for 24 hrs payable at hotel reception.
  Limited parking – you can only park in bays WITHOUT numbers

• Mailbox Car Park – Q-Park Mailbox, Royal Mail Street, B1 1RD – 5 minute walk from Crowne Plaza.
  15% discount when staying at the Crowne Plaza
  £22.50 for 24hrs

• Town Hall Car Park – Town Hall Parking Brunel Street, B1 1TA – 5 minute walk from Crowne Plaza.
  £16.30 for 24 hrs payable at location

---

THANK YOU TO OUR AWARD SPONSORS

---

Award Sponsorship

The FE First Awards celebrates the very best of marketing in the further education sector. Sponsoring an award provides your business the opportunity to be seen by, and engage with, marketing professionals from colleges and sixth forms from across the UK.

The FE First Awards is held on the same day as our conference where there is also opportunity to network with delegates by hosting a workshop or exhibiting.

Find out more about the packages available.

---

Award Judges