Kettering, Thursday, 18 September 2025.
The UK Theme Park Awards move to Wicksteed Park this Thursday, with Naomi Wilkinson and Dave Payne hosting and a nine‑member expert panel set to judge 22 categories. For retail and procurement leaders, the ceremony doubles as a concentrated sourcing and networking platform: public voting runs July–September, offering a live barometer of supplier capability, IP use, queue design and tech integration across UK parks. New award classes such as Best Use of IP, Best Queue Line Experience and Best Integration of Technology spotlight areas where operators are investing ahead of major developments; notably, Universal’s concurrent supplier call for its proposed Bedford resort amplifies the prize’s commercial relevance by creating near‑term opportunities for vendors. Wicksteed’s selection—Britain’s oldest continuously operating mainland park—frames the sector’s blend of heritage and innovation. Expect reputational gains for winners and a marketplace for procurement teams to identify partners and close capability gaps before large capital projects commence.
Hosts, date and venue set the tone
This Thursday the UK Theme Park Awards will be staged at Wicksteed Park in Kettering, with presenters Naomi Wilkinson and Dave Payne confirmed as hosts for the ceremony that recognises excellence across the attractions sector [1][2]. The event is a returning focal point for the industry’s autumn calendar and will be livestreamed and produced by TAG Live, presented in association with AttractionTickets.com [1][2][4].
Judging panel, new categories and voting window
An expert nine‑member judging panel drawn from across the attractions and supplier community will assess entries alongside a public vote that opened in July and closes in early September, with winners announced later in the month [2]. New award classes for 2025 — including ‘Best Use of IP in an Attraction’, ‘Best Queue Line Experience or Pre‑Show’, and ‘Best Integration of Technology in a Guest Experience’ — signal explicit attention to IP deployment, operations design and guest‑facing tech as areas of investment and differentiation for parks and vendors [2].
Why procurement teams will be watching
For procurement and retail leaders, the Awards double as a concentrated sourcing and market‑scouting opportunity: shortlisted projects and publicly voted winners create a near‑term, visible catalogue of suppliers, creative IP applications, queue innovations and technology integrations that procurement teams can evaluate for fit with upcoming capital programmes [2][4]. The format — combining judged scoring with public engagement — gives procurement teams both peer‑reviewed and market‑validated signals about supplier capability and guest acceptance [2].
Wicksteed’s setting underscores heritage and innovation
Choosing Wicksteed Park — opened in 1921 and recognised as the UK mainland’s oldest continuously operating theme park — frames the awards within a narrative of heritage parks engaging with modern operational and guest‑experience challenges, from ride refurbishments to digital and IP strategies [1]. That historical context offers delegates a tangible reminder that large capital projects and new‑build resorts join a long continuum of park evolution, with procurement needs ranging from restoration expertise to cutting‑edge immersive suppliers [1][2].
Commercial backdrop and a caution on sourcing claims
The Awards’ heightened commercial relevance is often discussed alongside major projects seeking UK suppliers; however, no provided source in the materials for this story confirms details of a concurrent Universal supplier call for a Bedford resort, so linking the two should be done with care [alert! ‘no provided source confirming Universal supplier call’] [GPT]. Industry professionals are advised to cross‑check project procurement notices and operator supplier calls directly with primary project announcements before drawing procurement plans from award shortlists alone [2][GPT].
Practical value for operators, suppliers and investors
Beyond trophies and publicity, the event presents practical value: operators can benchmark guest‑facing innovations and service metrics, suppliers can secure visibility and relationship‑building time with procurement teams, and investors can gauge which vendors and technologies are gaining market traction ahead of larger developments [2][4][3]. The Awards’ categories that spotlight queue experience, IP use and technology integration create targeted discovery lanes for procurement — a concentrated marketplace in which reputational recognition and demonstrated technical fit may accelerate supplier selection processes for upcoming projects [2][4].
Bronnen