The Event - ENAs

The ENAs will be heading back to Greater Manchester on 7 May 2026!

Bigger and better than ever, we're moving to a larger venue, the fabulous Point at Emirates Old Trafford Cricket Ground

Event Guest Information

Approximate Running Order

17:15 Drinks Reception

18:15 Welcome Speeches

18:30 Dinner & Awards

23:30 Carriages

Dress Code – Dress to impress!

Ticket Prices

£195+VAT Book Tickets

£1850+VAT Book Tickets

£2240+VAT Book Tickets

Booking Details

This event is ticketless. Once payment has been received, your booking will be confirmed. Guest names and details along with any dietary requests, food allergies or access requirements should be sent to educationnorthawards@gmail.com by 23 April. Requests received on the event date cannot be guaranteed. To qualify for the early bird ticket rate, full payment or an official purchase order number must be received by 23 March 2026. Any payments or purchase order numbers received after this deadline will be charged at the standard ticket rate. Invoices issued at the early bird rate must be settled within 30 days of the invoice date; otherwise, the standard rate will apply.

CANCELLATIONS

We regret that once a ticket request has been made, the sale is final and no refunds will be offered for cancellations or changes to the booking.

Your Host

Lucy Meacock is Chancellor at Salford University and a keen advocate of the wider North of England. She is delighted to host these awards because she believes it is vital to recognise how important a good education is for everyone. She wanted to thank all of those who are determined to raise educational standards in a variety of ways. Lucy is one of the UK’s longest ever serving TV presenters with a career stretching back more than 35 years at ITV and the BBC. ITN recently said Lucy is as iconic in the North West as Blackpool Tower and Coronation Street. She has interviewed seven of the most recent Prime Ministers (there wasn’t time to interview Liz Truss)!

The Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy has praised Lucy for her work in getting the record set straight for the Hillsborough families - a campaign that won Lucy a Bafta. She’s won 2 Baftas and many other awards in a long and distinguished career in TV. She is best known for anchoring Granada Reports and a variety of other programmes including the ground-breaking Upfront debate show with Tony Wilson. More recently she was teamed with Tony Morris - a duo popular for their on screen banter.

She decided to step away from Granada Reports to focus on legacy projects. This includes her work to support businesses that are vital to the future of the North, mentoring young people and helping a number charities. After many years of reporting news Lucy is now focusing on a wide variety of positive initiatives. This year those include hosting a major national police conference on making our towns safer, a debate on improving response to anti -social behaviour and the Regional Press Awards in London.

The Venue

The Point, Emirates Old Trafford Cricket Ground

Venue Address

Talbot Rd Old Trafford Stretford Manchester M16 0PX

Getting There

Emirates Old Trafford Cricket Ground is located next to Old Trafford Metrolink stop and also offers free parking for anyone wishing to drive to the event. Further travel information can be found at https://emiratesoldtrafford.lancashirecricket.co.uk/visit/

Our Event Sponsors & Partners

Smooth Radio North East & Smooth Radio North West

Testimonials

The Educate North Awards represent both an important high-point and aspiration for the North’s academics, institutions and indeed students. It provides a platform for sharing excellence and achievement. More importantly it encourages, promotes, and nurtures the sector and talent. Congratulations on reaching 10. Here’s to the next ten celebrations of what the education sector achieves. DR JOHN CATER CBE DL, FORMER VICE-CHANCELLOR
EDGE-HILL UNIVERSITY

I was overwhelmed to receive a Lifetime Achievement Award as part of the Educate North Awards. It’s inspiring to see so many dedicated people being recognised for their important work across the educational sector and across so many disciplines. I hope the creators will build upon their own success and create more opportunities to showcase what education really means in the North of this country. PROFESSOR NICOLA CURTIN
UNIVERSITY OF NEWCASTLE

Seeing the Educate North Awards live for the first time was a wonderful experience. To bring an often disparate sector together is wonderful, to share best-practice is fulfilling and to see the superb standards from Sixth-Forms, Further Education and then HE in one room is often, breathtaking. We should embrace the ENAs more and drive it forward beyond this special 10th ceremony. SIR JOHN JONES
EDUCATIONALIST

The idea sounded complex but exciting in 2015. Could the North create a showpiece which would harness the best of the talents we have in our educational sector? Would anyone even enter? Would we create a respected and highly motivated judging panel and find expert leadership for it? Would we also find room, as we did in the first 3 years, to debate the future direction and resources needed to increase social mobility and opportunities for all? Would we find new business ideas and young entrepreneurs as well with a willingness to test their ideas? The answer was yes, and the result is a wonderful parade of superb nominees who are helping shape and change the worlds they occupy. Long may Educate North continue. DR JOHN KENNEDY CBE, KSG, KMCO, DL.
PATRON OF EDUCATE NORTH AWARDS

WELCOME TO THE ENAs

Dates for your calendar

Event Guest Information

Approximate Running Order

Menu

Starter

Main

Dessert

Vegan Starter

Vegan Main

Vegan Dessert