An immersive evening of celebration, recognition and unforgettable entertainment in the heart of London.
What
Spotlight Awards
Where
Somerset House, London
When
June 2026
Key Details
450 attendees
Multiple award categories
Drinks reception aboard the Silver Sturgeon
Exclusive use of Somerset House Courtyard
Three-course gala dinner
End-to-end event management, production and supplier coordination
Live marching band welcome
Bespoke musical performance
Live DJ with custom award stings
After-party entertainment
Accommodation and transport managed across multiple London hotels
15m LED wall with immersive production
The Brief
The Ardonagh Spotlight Awards is the group's flagship annual awards ceremony, celebrating the outstanding achievements of colleagues from across the business. For the 2026 event, Ardonagh wanted to create an experience that went beyond a traditional awards dinner—one that immersed guests in the brand from the moment they arrived and delivered a memorable celebration worthy of its people.
Newling Events was appointed to manage the event from concept through to delivery, taking responsibility for every aspect of planning and production. The brief included sourcing and contracting all venues, developing the event journey, coordinating accommodation and transport across multiple London hotels, managing suppliers, and delivering an ambitious production that would transform Somerset House into a bespoke awards experience.
Working closely with the client through extensive planning meetings and site visits, Newling curated an evening packed with unique moments, from a drinks reception aboard the Silver Sturgeon as it cruised along the River Thames to immersive entertainment, spectacular production and a high-energy after-party.
The Outcome
The 2026 Ardonagh Spotlight Awards welcomed 450 guests for an unforgettable evening celebrating excellence across the business.
The experience began aboard the Silver Sturgeon, where guests enjoyed a drinks reception while cruising along the River Thames before arriving at Somerset House. On disembarking, they were met by a live marching band, creating a dramatic procession that escorted attendees through to the venue and immediately set the tone for the evening.
Inside, Somerset House was completely transformed through a full event rebrand. A spectacular 15-metre LED wall, dramatic intelligent lighting, bespoke table centres, custom signage and branded bars created a visually immersive environment that reflected the Ardonagh brand at every touchpoint.
Entertainment remained at the heart of the evening. Guests enjoyed a bespoke pre-dinner performance featuring Ardonagh's Chief of Staff alongside professional backing vocalists, with specially rewritten lyrics celebrating the business and its people. Following a three-course dinner, the spotlight turned to the awards ceremony, where 11 awards were presented against a dynamic production backdrop, with a live DJ performing bespoke award stings to maintain energy throughout the show. The celebrations continued late into the evening with an after-party that provided the perfect finale to an exceptional event.
Behind the scenes, Newling Events managed every operational detail—from venue sourcing and supplier management to production, accommodation logistics, transport coordination and onsite delivery—ensuring every element came together seamlessly.
The result was a truly immersive awards experience that exceeded expectations, celebrated Ardonagh's people in style and demonstrated how creative event production can elevate a corporate awards ceremony into a world-class live experience.
Testimonial
“Newling Events has become an extension of our team. Having worked with the founders for many years, we trust them implicitly to deliver exceptional events from concept to execution. Their attention to detail, professionalism, stakeholder management and ability to perform under pressure ensure every event is delivered to the highest standard. At The Ardonagh Group, we aim to create memorable experiences for our colleagues, and Newling consistently helps us achieve exactly that.”
— Leanne Hull, Head of Communications, The Ardonagh Group