The Operational PPP Summit and Awards 2026
The Manchester Deansgate Hotel
23 – 24 November 2026
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About the event
The Operational PPP Summit is now in its third year of bringing together the individuals, projects and partnerships that are shaping the industry and the way we deliver infrastructure.
Our inaugural event in 2024 exceeded our expectations and welcomed 400 people to Leeds city centre and last year over 450 travelled to the Celtic Manor in Wales for two days of conference panels, workshops and roundtables and an evening of celebrating the success stories at the Operational PPP Awards.
For 2026 we are heading to Manchester and are expecting to grow again with an estimated 500 people gathering to learn from conversations with the leading voices in PPP and celebrate the industry’s achievements.
We believe the Operational PPP Awards and conference play an essential role in helping to spread the word that public private partnerships have a vital role in transforming infrastructure.
The Summit features:
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Two days of conference sessions focused on critical operational topics
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Opening and closing plenaries led by industry thought leaders
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Roundtable discussions for informal, off-the-record debates
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Interactive workshops providing practical insights into best practices
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An awards ceremony complete with dinner, a drinks reception, and an after-party
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Over 450 attendees from key PPP organisations
However, don’t just take our word for it. Some feedback from previous years includes:
“I, and lots more that I talked to, thought the whole event, and the awards evening especially, was a great success! It was lovely to see so many people from across the industry, and so many from the various parts of the public sector; such an important element. I’m sure next year will be even better and sought after as word of mouth about it spreads. Thank you, such a great addition to the annual calendar, and wholly relevant!”
“It was a great event and so good to see friends and colleagues in person. It makes such a difference.”
“You have certainly hit a sweet spot with the target audience and I was very impressed with the exposure that [we] enjoyed as a sponsor, but equally impressed with the event itself.”
“It was a fantastic event and well attended.”
“It was a fabulous summit and thank you for organising it, we were absolutely thrilled with our awards”
“It was great to catch up with new and familiar faces at the event over the past few days. One of the best I have attended!”
“We are delighted to have been associated with such a high profile and successful industry event.”
“What an amazing event! Was amazing to be part of such an inspirational event – there was a true buzz!”
“An excellent and eagerly anticipated event that definitely did not disappoint!”
Awards
Following on from the outstanding winners at the 2025 Operational PPP Awards, we will once again celebrate excellence in operational projects on the evening of 23 November.
The event will feature a drinks reception, a three-course dinner, and an awards presentation by a celebrity host. Last year we welcomed over 450 people to the Awards evening and are looking forward to growing even bigger this year.
Each year, we review the awards categories, criteria and judging and we are delighted to announce the 2026 categories are:
Project categories
The Public and Private Sector Collaboration Award
The Evolution/Innovation Award
Expiry Process of the Year
Community Engagement of the Year
The Small Change – Big Impact Award
Operational PPP Project of the Year
People and teams categories
MSP of the Year
FM Co of the Year
Advisory Team of the Year
Authority/Trust Team of the Year
The Rising Star Award
The Rising Star Award
Lifetime achievement of the Year – Public/Private Sector
Conference
Building on the success of the last two years, we have incorporated feedback and suggestions to shape the content for the 2026 event.
This year’s conference will once again feature panel discussions and fireside chats with key figures driving the operational delivery agenda, with interactive workshops forming the core of the sessions.
However, this year we will be splitting the conference into two themes on the two conference days. Day one on 23 November will focus on innovation and best practice in delivering operational PPPs. Day two will continue with the operational theme but we will be turning our sights to future projects and discussing how we can use the lessons learnt from current projects to shape the next generation of PPPs.
We are currently shaping our conference agenda which will be released shortly. If you would like to discuss running a session or speaking at the conference, please contact info@op3s.com
Request Agenda
To see a full agenda please enter your details below and we will send you a PDF within 24 hours
Speakers
Our agenda and speakers will be released soon. If you would like to hear more about potential speaker opportunities please email info@op3s.com
Matthew Vickerstaff
Rachel Turnbull
Kevin Hawkins
Jordan Thorp
Amanda Nicholls
Tom Owen KC
Richard Knight
Rosemary Jago
James Ryan
Robin Jack
Bill Taylor
Colin Flock
Paul Rogers
Adrian Mole
Steve Lawley
Dr Rachel Hampson
Alison Fagen
Marc Evans
Graham Thomson
James Bawn
Sponsors
A big thank you to those that have helped us shape the event. For more information on sponsoring and to see the brochure please email info@op3s.com
Affinitext
Opex Consulting
Oxhey Hall
Kajima Partnerships
Bevan Brittan
EllisDon
Howden
Equitix Management Services
Arcadis
DLA Piper
Drees and Sommer
Hera Waterproofing
Local Partnerships
Nomio
Resolis
Simmons and Simmons
Venue
Previous locations include Leeds and Newport, but this year we head to Manchester and the Deansgate Hotel.
Enjoy stunning city views from Manchester iconic Beetham Tower Nestled in the heart of Manchester’s City centre, the 23-storey hotel offers panoramic views over this vibrant and historic city’s skyline. Perfectly positioned just steps away from its bustling food and drink scene, shops, and iconic museums, Manchester Arena and Piccadilly Station are also only a mile away.
Enjoy floor-to-ceiling views from your room and unwind at the on-site bar while taking in the sights. For those wishing to relax or stay active away from home, the health club features a fitness centre, indoor pool, sauna, and steam room.
Contact
For all enquiries related to the Summit please contact: info@op3s.com
For invoicing and accounts enquiries please contact:admin@op3s.com