Looking Ahead: From C&IT Top 50 Recognition to Supporting the Industry's Future
- Associate Events
- 2 days ago
- 3 min read
Recognition is always appreciated, but what matters most is what it says about where you're heading.
Earlier this year, AE was proud to be named in the C&IT Top 50 Agencies for 2025 – our first appearance in one of the events industry's most respected rankings. It marked an important milestone for the business and reflected the hard work, commitment and expertise of our team, alongside the trust our clients place in us every day.
Compiled from detailed financial and industry data, the C&IT Top 50 and accompanying State of the Industry Agency Report provide a snapshot of the agencies driving growth, innovation and change across the UK events sector. To be recognised amongst such a strong group of businesses was a moment of real pride for everyone at AE.
The recognition extended beyond our overall ranking, with AE also achieving top-ten positions for Turnover Growth and Blended Staff Growth. For us, these achievements are about more than numbers. They represent investment in people, the strength of our client partnerships and a business model built for long-term, sustainable growth.
As our Managing Director, Alister De Ternant, commented at the time:
"Being named in C&IT's Top 50 Agencies for the first time is a huge milestone for AE. It's a rigorous, in-depth assessment of an agency's true market position, so to be recognised in this way is something we're incredibly proud of.
Our contribution to C&IT's State of the Industry Agency Report highlights the strength of our thinking, insight and experience in a fast-evolving events landscape. We always strive to stay one step ahead in both vision and delivery, and it's fantastic to see that reflected on such a respected platform."
The events sector is evolving rapidly. According to C&IT's State of the Industry: Agency Report 2025, agencies are experiencing higher levels of client demand, but often without corresponding increases in budget. As a result, success increasingly depends on flexibility, measurable ROI and the ability to deliver more value from every event.
The report also highlights a shift away from traditional agency structures towards more agile, cross-disciplinary teams. In practice, that means working faster, collaborating more fluidly, and delivering increasingly complex programmes with fewer fixed boundaries between strategy, creative and delivery.
That’s already how we operate at AE. Whether it's a product launch, conference, leadership event or internal strategy day, we combine strategic thinking, creative delivery and operational expertise to help clients get more from every event. Through structured planning, procurement expertise and precise delivery, AE clients typically reduce event spend by an average of 18.1% while maintaining high-impact outcomes.
“The State of the Industry report shows a sector under clear pressure: clients want more measurable impact, more flexibility and better value, but budgets are not keeping pace. That gap is accelerating change in how agencies are structured and how they deliver work.
Agencies that stay tied to traditional models will struggle to adapt. The ones that will succeed are those that can bring together strategy, procurement intelligence and agile delivery to improve efficiency without losing quality of experience. That’s where we’re focused as a business.
We’re pleased to be sponsoring this year’s C&IT Awards and look forward to seeing everyone at the awards evening in October.” — Alister De Ternant, Managing Director, AE
This focus on measurable impact and efficiency also shapes our wider involvement in the industry, which is why we’re sponsoring this year’s C&IT Awards. The awards recognise the individuals, teams and agencies shaping the future of the sector, and we’re proud to support an event that celebrates the talent, expertise and adaptability driving it forward.
Being named in the C&IT Top 50 is an important milestone for AE, but it’s not an endpoint. The industry continues to evolve, and we’re focused on building on that momentum while helping our clients navigate what comes next.
To our clients, partners and team members, thank you for being part of that journey. We are excited about what comes next and look forward to continuing to shape exceptional experiences together.
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