The ABPCO Festival of Learning 

Connect, Collaborate and Challenge

Bringing the association events community together to promote & encourage excellence, share, learn & collaborate

The Association of British Professional Conference Organisers, (ABPCO) is the UK’s leading professional body for association conference & not-for-profit event organisation. We are excited to announce that the Festival of Learning event is returning next year and it will be taking place in person on Tuesday 29 April 2025 at the Eastside Rooms in Birmingham, with some activities the afternoon and evening prior.

The Festival of Learning brings the association events industry together and provides opportunities for sharing, learning and collaboration. 

The Festival of Learning will be attended by over 100 leading PCOs in the UK and a range of industry partners.

Call for your best practice case studies for the ABPCO Festival of Learning

We invite submissions to be part of new quick-fire sessions showcasing innovative and creative best practices in conference organisation.  This is a fantastic opportunity to share your unique insights, creative solutions, and practical approaches that can inspire and empower fellow professionals in the field.

About the Quick-Fire sessions:

We are looking for engaging, dynamic case studies that offer fresh perspectives and actionable insights.  Each session will include a number of quick fire examples, which must focus on key takeaways that delegates can apply in their own practice.

Submission guidelines

Abstract length: Maximum 300 words

Format: Must include a brief introduction, key points and the 'Top 3 takeaways' that delegates can potentially put into action.

Deadline for submission:  1st November 2024

Notification of acceptance: W/c 11th November 2024

Submit via this link to Oxford Abstracts

Submission Criteria

• Submissions will be evaluated based on:
• Relevance to all ABPCO members and Festival of Learning delegates
• Recent examples of innovation and creativity of the case study and its impact
• Clarity and conciseness of key takeaways
• Potential for practical application by delegates

Please note: If we do not accept your submission for the Festival of Learning it may be considered for future learning opportunities.

Why participate?

Selected presenters will have the opportunity to:

• Showcase your work to a diverse audience of industry professionals, academics and students
• Gain recognition as a thought leader in the field of event management
• Contribute to the development and enrichment of industry practices

We look forward to your submissions and the opportunity to learn from your innovative and creative best practices.  Let's connect, collaborate and challenge together!

If you have any queries email Heather Lishman on heatherlishman@abpco.org.

Interested in sponsorship?

This annual gathering attracts industry leaders, association professionals, and key decision-makers, offering a unique platform to enhance your brand's visibility, engage with influential stakeholders, and contribute to the future of professional conferences and events.

Align your brand with innovation and excellence at the ABPCO Festival of Learning! 

We would like to thank ACC Liverpool for being our Student Support Sponsor again this year - we will have 5 places for event management students to attend the Festival fully supported.  If you are interested please send a 1 min video explaining why you should be one of those students, to heatherlishman@abpco.org by the 1st Feb 25.

We would also like to thank Cvent our event app sponsor, Harrogate Convention Centre for sponsoring our refreshments and Eastside Rooms for sponsoring the Networking Supper.

We still have a few sponsorship opportunities left, and would be delighted to speak to you about these.

  See the SPONSORSHIP PACKAGES here