The 2026 ENSE Partnership Summit And Awards is just one week away, with the commercial catering industry’s leading figures collaborating under one roof over the course of three days.
This annual event returns to the Hilton Birmingham Metropole hotel from 15th to 17th April, with impactful, game-changing conversations due to take place.
Bob Adams, Managing Director, and Ben Sherriff, Business Development Director, explain what attendees can expect, the pitfalls of not being there, and more.
Why is the ENSE Partnership Summit and Awards so important to attend, and how would you describe the energy in the room?
Ben: It’s become an industry event where people collaborate and exchange ideas, build on existing relationships, and create new ones, which is great for everyone.
The energy is made up of many different facets and emotions, but overall I’d describe it as very dynamic. It’s a fantastic event to be at.
What were some of the highlights of last year’s Partnership Summit and Awards from your perspective?
Bob: There were a couple of key highlights.
Firstly, an unprecedented number of people and companies were in attendance.
Secondly, this level of participation has created more commercial opportunities for both the distributors and suppliers.
To Ben’s point, because everything was so dynamic and there were so many companies and people involved, it created an incredible atmosphere for everyone.
How has the commercial catering industry evolved over the last 12 months, and how will this evolution be reflected at this year’s ENSE Partnership Summit and Awards?
Ben: It’s been a really tough 12 months for the commercial catering industry for various reasons.
Despite these challenges, our suppliers and dealers have been able to achieve growth through the collaborations we’ve had with them.
These partnerships have been crucial in helping them ride out a difficult period.
Looking back to 2012 when ENSE first started, how has the industry—and the ENSE Partnership Summit and Awards itself—developed over that time?
Bob: There are a few major changes.
The industry has become smarter in how it buys and sells equipment, and much of that is down to technological advances.
Social media has transformed how we market products, and today almost all forms of buying are done electronically. In the past, we’d print out or even handwrite purchase orders and send them in. Now, everything is streamlined and digital.
We’ve also become much smarter in our commercial decisions. We’ve survived both Brexit and COVID, and that experience has made us leaner and smarter in how we go about business.
Many ENSE members have spoken about the business opportunities and commercial growth they’ve experienced from being part of ENSE. How encouraging is this kind of feedback, and how have these opportunities been made possible?
Ben: I’ve been with ENSE for nearly six years, and I’ve been fortunate to witness the general success across all corners of our community.
We’ve watched countless members and companies grow and evolve into what they are today.
It’s very rewarding to see all of these different demographics coming together, collaborating, and succeeding.
What can attendees expect from this year’s Partnership Summit and Awards, and how will it differ from last year’s event?
Bob: We’ve got several changes coming.
Like our community, we’re ever-evolving, and we’re making lots of subtle but critical changes along the way, whether it’s adjusting our marketing strategy or fine-tuning certain aspects of our annual Partnership Summit.
We’re not going to divulge all of our secrets; you have to be there to see what we’re doing and what’s changing.
But we do have some great things planned for this year, and we’re really excited to share them with the room.
For anyone who is new to ENSE or hasn’t attended this event before, what do the awards represent? What do they celebrate?
Ben: They celebrate people coming together face-to-face and enjoying those in-person interactions. It’s about building long-term relationships—long-term business relationships in particular.
The awards recognise and reinforce the importance of this sustained, shared success within the community.
What are the pitfalls of not being at the 2026 ENSE Partnership Summit and Awards?
Bob: You have to look at both sides of the equation: the distributor and the supplier.
For distributors, not attending means missing out on business opportunities and the education they would gain from engaging with our suppliers.
For suppliers, if they choose not to attend, they miss out on the opportunity to win new business and grow their market share.
You simply can’t get this many industry leaders collaborating in the same room anywhere else.
That’s why you need to attend the ENSE Partnership Summit and Awards.
What outcomes are you hoping for from this year’s Partnership Summit and Awards, and what would make it a success for you?
Ben: I think it has already become a success, quite simply because of the people we’re fortunate to have in our community. They continue to make it a success.
The event has continued to grow, and we grow with our members. We all grow together, and when that happens, we all benefit.
It’s a simple philosophy, but it works.
We look forward to seeing you at the Hilton!
If you’re an ENSE member, we hope to catch you at this year’s Partnership Summit & Awards.
If you’re not a member but are interested in joining the UK’s premier catering equipment buying consortium, you can find out more about us here.
You can also contact us at 07775 643557 or 07500 778457 or by email at [email protected].