The Catalyst Recognised on the National Tourism Stage

The Catalyst, Newcastle’s landmark innovation and events venue, has been shortlisted for a national VisitEngland Award for Excellence, placing it among the very best business events venue’s in England. The recognition follows an exceptional performance at the Destination North East England Tourism Awards, where The Catalyst received a Gold award, securing its place in the national finals.

The announcement, made by Destination North East England, highlights the growing national profile of the North East’s visitor economy — and the role forward‑thinking venues like The Catalyst play in showcasing the region’s innovation, sustainability and business tourism offer. 

The Catalyst is managed on behalf of Newcastle University as part of Oxford Innovation Space, the UK’s leading operator of innovation centres. Oxford Innovation Space specialises in creating and managing environments where research, enterprise and collaboration thrive. Across the UK and Ireland, the organisation supports universities, public bodies and private partners by operating innovation spaces that connect ambitious businesses with world‑class research and support networks.

At The Catalyst, this role brings together:

• Day‑to‑day venue and events management
• Support for business, research and innovation communities
• Delivery of a high‑quality visitor and delegate experience within a globally significant setting

This recognition at national level reflects not only the building itself, but the collective effort of partners, occupiers and operational teams working behind the scenes every day.

The Catalyst is home to two nationally significant institutions:

• The National Innovation Centre for Data (NICD)
• The National Innovation Centre for Ageing (NICA)

Both centres form part of Newcastle University’s innovation ecosystem and attract researchers, businesses and policymakers from across the UK and beyond. Together, they position The Catalyst as a distinctive destination for business events, knowledge exchange and collaboration — a key factor highlighted in its VisitEngland recognition. 

According to Destination North East England, The Catalyst is competing in the Business Events Venue of the Year category, reflecting the venue’s ability to deliver exceptional experiences for meetings, conferences and innovation‑led events on a national scale. 

The VisitEngland Awards for Excellence celebrate the very highest standards across England’s tourism industry, including accessibility, sustainability, customer service and innovation. Finalists are drawn from more than 360 regional winners, with only 48 organisations nationwide progressing to the final stage. 

Destination North East England reports that the North East attracted more entries than any other region in the regional awards programme, underlining the depth and quality of the area’s visitor offer — and reinforcing Newcastle’s reputation as a leading destination for business and innovation‑led tourism.

The national finals will take place in June at Aerospace Bristol, offering a high‑profile platform to showcase the region and its standout venues to a national audience.

This recognition is a shared milestone for:

• Newcastle University, as owner of The Catalyst and host of nationally significant innovation assets
• Oxford Innovation Space, as managing operator of the building
• NICD and NICA, whose work attracts national and international visitors
• The wider Newcastle and North East visitor economy

It reinforces the ambition to position The Catalyst not just as a building, but as a nationally recognised place where ideas, data, ageing research and enterprise come together — and where visitors experience the very best of the region.

This article is informed by reporting from Destination North East England.

Read the original announcement here:
👉 North East Tourism Hotspots Set to Compete on National Stage