BE Exhibitions founder Ellen Stokes has been recognised at the National Business Women's Awards (NBWA), receiving the silver award in the Southern England Business Woman of the Year category.
Held at the Leonardo Royal Hotel London City and hosted by television presenter Marina Berry, the awards celebrate outstanding female achievement across 24 categories, with winners selected by a national judging panel.
The recognition marks another milestone for Ellen and BE Exhibitions, following a period of sustained business growth and industry recognition. Since launching the business in 2017 at the age of 22, Ellen has built BE Exhibitions around a collaborative, partner-led approach to exhibition stand design and delivery.
Like many businesses across the exhibition sector, BE Exhibitions faced significant challenges during the pandemic, when confirmed projects disappeared almost overnight. Rather than stepping back, the team remained focused on supporting clients and preparing for the return of live events.
That resilience has helped the business achieve record-breaking growth, with revenue increasing tenfold since 2017. Today, BE Exhibitions retains 80% of its clients year-on-year and supports projects across 35 major venues and events in the UK and internationally, including CES in Las Vegas and Accountex.
The latest accolade follows a number of industry achievements, including winning the ESSA Young Person Award and being shortlisted for Best Supplier to Exhibitor at the Exhibition News Awards, one of the exhibition industry's most prestigious honours.
"To be named silver winner in the Southern England Business Woman of the Year category is something I could never have imagined when I started out in 2017," said Ellen.
"It means the world, and it belongs to my whole team and the clients who have trusted us along the way. Sitting in a room full of such inspiring women, all building something of their own, was humbling and a real privilege.
"From day one, I wanted BE Exhibitions to be more than a stand supplier. I wanted to work purposefully alongside clients and become a trusted partner. To have that recognised on a national stage means everything."
Alongside leading the business, Ellen is an active member of ESSA and the Forest Business Partnership, contributing to marketing masterclasses, industry discussions and enterprise education at her former secondary school. Looking ahead, she is also developing plans for a community garden, mentoring opportunities for young people and future apprenticeship programmes.
The National Business Women's Awards ceremony also raised funds for endometriosis awareness, bringing together business leaders from across the UK to celebrate entrepreneurship and achievement. For more information on BE Exhibitions, please visit: https://beexhibitions.co.uk/
ENDS
About BE Exhibitions
Founded in 2017, BE Exhibitions is a UK-based exhibition stand design and build company, specialising in creating impactful brand experiences through a collaborative and stress-free approach.
Working across a wide range of industries, BE Exhibitions delivers flexible, eco-conscious stand solutions tailored to each client’s objectives - from modular systems to fully bespoke builds and self-build options.
Offering a complete end-to-end service, including design, build and project management, BE Exhibitions enables clients to focus on showcasing their products and services, with full confidence that every aspect of their exhibition presence is expertly handled.
Press contact
For media enquiries, please contact: Raimonda Richardson Email: rai@beexhibitions.co.uk Tel: 07827 959 481
