How Do You Top the Best Ever Heroes Awards? - An Operations Director’s Perspective
- Heroes Awards
- 2 days ago
- 3 min read
Alicia Hibberts
Operations Director
The Heroes Awards
Delivering the Heroes Awards is never simply about planning an event — it’s about curating a celebration of humanity at its best.
Each year brings its own challenges, triumphs, and unforgettable stories, but 2025 raised the bar higher than ever.
As Operations Director, I’m often asked the same question in the days that follow: “How do you top that?”
It’s a fair question. This year’s ceremony, held on 26th November at the London Hilton on Park Lane, was widely regarded as the most powerful and polished edition yet. The atmosphere was electric, the stories deeply moving, and the sense of unity in the room unmistakable. But when an event hits a height like that, the task of building on it isn’t daunting — it’s motivating.
Listening First, Planning Second
The journey to “what’s next” always starts with listening. Listening to attendees, sponsors, partners, and most importantly, the heroes themselves. Their feedback forms the backbone of every improvement. What resonated? What could be elevated? What surprised people? What moments created that pin-drop silence or spontaneous applause?
Great events are not reinvented each year — they’re refined, sharpened and strengthened.
Staying True to the Values Behind the Event
The Heroes Awards are built on authenticity. Raw, unfiltered acts of courage, compassion, and humanity are what make this event so unique. You don’t “top” that with theatrics or gimmicks. You honour it by protecting the values that make the awards what they are: kindness, humility, bravery and service to others.
That’s why the focus is always on creating a platform where those stories can breathe — and where the public can truly see the people behind the everyday heroism in our sector.
This Year’s Benchmark Moments
2025 gave us extraordinary moments to build on.The generosity shown by attendees — donating more than £2,500 worth of gifts to the Salvation Army’s Hoxton branch — was a shining example of the spirit behind the event. Watching those gifts handed over live on stage to Joe Phillips and Major Sally Spry was a reminder that the Heroes Awards inspires action, not just applause.
The event production, thanks to the team at Encore and the hard work of our venue partners, was the strongest yet. The storytelling was more impactful. The audience engagement was deeper. The emotion in the room was undeniable.
These moments don’t intimidate us going into next year — they inspire us.
**The Question Isn’t “How Do We Top It?”
It’s “How Do We Honour It?”**
The goal isn’t to outdo the previous year with grander staging or more spectacle. It’s to honour the heroes who step into the light each year, often reluctantly, to share stories that deserve to be heard.
We “top” the best-ever event by continuing to create a safe, dignified and powerful space for their voices. By ensuring every element — from logistics to lighting — exists for one purpose: to shine a spotlight on the extraordinary individuals in our industry.
Looking Ahead to 2026
The work has already begun. Relationships are being strengthened. New partners are joining the journey. Nominations are already being discussed. And behind the scenes, the engine of planning turns slowly but steadily.
If 2025 was our strongest year yet — and many told me it was — then 2026 is an opportunity. Not to compete with it, but to build upon it. To grow the community. To champion even more hidden heroes. To deepen the impact beyond one night in London.
Because the Heroes Awards aren’t about outdoing ourselves.They’re about uplifting others.
And that is something that can always be taken one step further.