Citadel has launched its annual party conference programme, now in its 17th year. We have teamed up with Ann Kennedy and hear what goes on behind the scenes to create the Youth Zone and Skills Hub 2026.
This year returning to Labour and Conservative conferences, as the parties of Government and Official Opposition, and a Youth & Skills Day at Liberal Democrats as the third largest party at Westminster. Citadel offers advice and guidance to take part at or attend other parties’ conferences.
“Our programme is ambitious and creates a cost-effective platform for charity-partners and supporters, including young people drawn from a range of backgrounds and experiences, to amplify the issues and their campaigns”, said Citadel founder Jonathan Hopkins.
“To meet the scale of interest and demand for places, we joined forces with Ann at Kennedy Consultancy Events, to run up to 100 events over just 6 days at the three main conferences,” he added.
Ann has decades (yes, many years!) of party conference experience, working for the Labour Party as its head of exhibitions and most recently working with Citadel to help deliver first class events. This involves anything from designing events spaces, working with venues and suppliers, and creating an online booking platform with helpful information and top tips, and for client requests in support of each event.
Ann’s career has covered everything from ‘Creating exhibitions on ice rinks and swimming pools’ to being a ‘part of the 1997 and 2024 events team in Downing Street’, to name a few – “I love building great event teams & working with some of the best people. To be able to create memorable moments that helped make a difference is really rewarding.”
Since last October, Jonathan and Ann have been visiting locations, checking out the spaces and how to present the set up at all the conferences. Everything from catering and booking forms, to pass allocations and AV unit equipment has to be sourced and accounted for months in advance. So what does an average week look like when you are preparing for the upcoming party conferences?
Ann told us, “It’s a cliche to say but no two weeks are the same and they’ll be driven by deadlines, development and delivery and of course the clients.”
“Time management is crucial and our team uses a project plan, diaries and regular meetings to stay on top of all our tasks. We have developed the use of the event manual Ffair. That has helped streamline work & support clients for seamless delivery.”
After reaching a personal record of having attended 100 annual party conferences last year, Jonathan agreed that the amount of time and effort that goes into planning a multi-day programme for multiple party conferences.
“When we announce our programme of events each year, I hear ‘I can’t believe it, conference plans so early!’ Yet, at Citadel our planning starts as soon as the previous year’s conference ends. It’s an all-year-round exercise.”
The Youth Zone has come of age, reaching 16 years in 2025, and returning this year with the Skills Hub and adding in a new Apprenticeships Day, also supporting a Good Growth Quarter with employers. Backed by Youth Futures Foundation, City & Guilds, St Martin’s Group and Be the Business for each of the event programmes, there are around 50 charity-partners taking part.
According to Ann, those planning on popping to the Youth Zone and Skills Hub can expect, “to meet, hear and collaborate with experts and young people in the sectors at all conferences.”
“With bespoke outdoor event spaces and the Walton Youth and Community Bus at Labour Party Conference, round table discussions at the Liberal Democrats Party Conference and engaging talks within theatre spaces at Conservative Party Conference, the Youth Zone and Skills Hub are bringing an exciting programme to get involved with,” said Ann.
So, you heard it here first, this year’s Youth Zone and Skills Hub will be jam-packed with events and activities. We can’t wait to see how planning continues to progress behind the scenes and to see it all happen at the conferences this autumn.
Citadel 