Entries for the Brand & Lifestyle Licensing Awards 2025 are now officially open – with the event returning to the Royal Lancaster London on Thursday 24 April 2025.
Now in its 10th year, the B&LLAs gives the brand and lifestyle licensing and retail sector an opportunity to be recognised and rewarded separately to the massive character and entertainment licensing sector which is covered by The Licensing Awards (held in September).
The B&LLAs 2025 – which is owned and organised by Max Publishing – will look to reward brand and lifestyle licensing activity which has taken place in the UK between 1 January 2024 to 31 December 2024, across Product, Retail and Property categories. In addition, the Brand Ambassador Award will also be presented to a special individual (brand owner, licensor, retailer, licensee or supplier), acknowledging their contribution to the brand licensing sector, while the Rising Star Award will recognise and reward excellence among those ‘new to the brand licensing sector’ in the UK who have shown real potential in the continued evolution of the sector.
The deadline for nominations and entries across all categories is Thursday 6 March 2025.
The entry and nomination process for all categories is free and via online submission – all the forms can be accessed from the dedicated B&LLAs website by clicking here.
Brand Licensing Europe will be returning as the headline sponsor of the Brand & Lifestyle Licensing Awards 2025, while Licensing International will once again be lending its support.
“We’re delighted to return as headline sponsor for the B&LLAS 2025,” commented Anna Knight, svp licensing, Informa Markets. “Brand and lifestyle licensing is among the most creative, innovative and authentic. At BLE, we have been huge cheerleaders for this category for many, many years, supporting non-profit and heritage exhibitors like Van Gogh, Natural History Museum and the V&A, agents like Beanstalk, Pink Key Licensing and Start Licensing, and brands in their own right such as Sara Miller and Laura Ashley.
“We were also delighted to see some of the retailers who attend BLE winning big at last year’s B&LLAs – yes, Primark, Iceland, DFS, Dunelm and Boots, we’re pointing a congratulatory finger at you – and can’t wait to see who takes the trophies home in 2025.”
Steve Manners, head of global marketing and UK md, Licensing International, continued: “Licensing International is delighted to support the B&LLA Awards and sponsor the Rising Star category once again. These awards have established themselves as a highlight in the UK industry calendar, celebrating outstanding creativity, innovation, and achievements in brand and lifestyle licensing. The sector continues to grow, branching into exciting new product categories and inspiring more brands to leverage licensing as a dynamic way to connect with consumers. Recognising emerging talent alongside product and brand excellence is a priority for Licensing International and the wider industry, which remains resilient and flourishing despite the challenges of recent years.”
A number of stellar names have also pledged their support as sponsors including Beanstalk, Brandgenuity, CAA Brand Management, Country Living/House Beautiful, Golden Goose, Laura Ashley, Lisle Licensing, Metrostar, Natural History Museum, Octane5, Pink Key Licensing, Poetic Brands, Products of Change, Sanderson Design Group, Sara Miller London, Seminal, Start Licensing and The Wyld Bunch.
For ticket and table information for the B&LLAs awards event, please click here.
For sponsorship, entry questions or general enquiries regarding the B&LLAs 2025, please contact Ian Hyder, Jakki Brown, Rob Willis or Samantha Loveday by clicking on their respective names.
While there is much discussion as to what constitutes a ‘brand’, in the context of The B&LLAs only licences and licensed products featuring brands hailing from the museum & heritage, food & beverage, FMCG non-food, automotive, media, design-led IP and fashion genres are applicable. All entertainment brands including TV, film, celebrity as well as gaming, music and sports are covered by The Licensing Awards in September.
