Festival of Ideas Wins Best Event Experience

The University of Hertfordshire is celebrating a major win after taking home Gold in the Best Event Experience category at the 2025 Heist Awards, thanks to the outstanding success of its Festival of Ideas.

Announced at an awards ceremony in Leeds on Thursday 10 July, the University of Hertfordshire triumphed over nine other shortlisted institutions to claim the top prize. The University was also named among the 10 finalists for the prestigious Heist Marketing Team of the Year award.

Held in May last year, the Festival of Ideas was the biggest, free, public, in-person event ever hosted by the University. It was designed to inspire curiosity, spark conversation, and showcase the very best of the university’s diverse research, education, enterprise and partnerships through workshops, talks, performances, exhibitions, immersive experiences and more.

Transforming its Hatfield campus into a hub of innovation and imagination, the Festival of Ideas attracted nearly 4,500 visitors over the two days, many of which were new to the University. Judges for the Heist Awards – the sector’s leading awards for excellence in education marketing – commended the event for its bold vision, creative delivery, and the vibrant energy it brought to campus, and for leaving a lasting impression on students, staff and the wider community.

Professor Quintin McKellar CBE, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Hertfordshire said: ‘The Festival of Ideas was the most ambitious and wide-reaching public event we’ve ever delivered. Its success is a testament to the outstanding leadership, creativity, and dedication of our incredible Marketing and Communications team, alongside the phenomenal support and collaboration of colleagues across the University.

‘Thanks to this collective effort, we built a vibrant and inspiring festival programme, transformed our campuses into modern, dynamic, welcoming spaces, and gave our visitors an unforgettable experience – one that left them informed, inspired, and proud of the remarkable work happening at Herts.

‘Winning Gold at the Heist Awards is a huge honour and a reflection of the extraordinary teamwork behind the event, and a tribute to the passion, creativity, and collaboration of everyone who helped bring the Festival of Ideas to life.’

Under the theme ‘Powering your Tomorrow’, highlights from the Festival of Ideas – which featured more than 50 activities – included a pop-up planetarium, real-world simulations, film and TV studio and equipment access, virtual reality and robot demonstrations, interactive art and science workshops, a poetry stage, talks and panels covering business, AI, technology, arts and culture, health and sport and headline speakers including: Jon Sopel, Tom Hughes (The News Agents), Dame Liz Nicholl, former CEO of UK Sport, and Helen Lederer, comedian and university alumna.

Jo Stuart, Pro Vice for International and Marketing Communications at the University of Hertfordshire, said: ‘The Festival of Ideas was the University’s largest-ever free public event, setting a new standard for engagement and reputation-building. Our approach was sector-leading, driven by comprehensive consultation with peer institutions and internal stakeholders to ensure best practices in logistics, accessibility, and sustainability.

‘More than that, by exceeding every objective, the Festival not only boosted Herts’ visibility, but fostered long-term, strategically valuable relationships to take our university forward. It demonstrated the power of immersive, audience-first experiences in higher education marketing. An exemplary event for innovation, impact and inclusivity, the Festival of Ideas has set a new standard for future initiatives in the sector.’

The Heist Awards are the UK’s premier celebration of excellence in education marketing, recognising outstanding creativity, innovation, and impact across the sector. Organised annually by Havas Education, the awards honour the achievements of marketing and communications teams from universities, colleges, and specialist institutions.

To learn more about the Festival of Ideas and future events at the University of Hertfordshire, visit herts.ac.uk.