EBL26_Content_Programme

CONFERENCE PROGRAMME

Trends, strategies and acceleration tactics for the businesses of 2026.

9.00 - 18.00 VIP STUDIO ENTRY

9.00 - 17.00 LIVESTREAM BROADCAST

16.30 - 18.00 VIP NETWORKING LEONARDO ROYAL, ST PAUL’S, LONDON, EC4V 5AJ

AMBITIOUS LEADERS

09:15 Show Opens

OLI BARRETT MBE

09:25 Opening Remarks

MCDOUGAL

09:30 - 10:00 - KEYNOTE

FUNDING UNLOCKED:

MASTER THE PERFECT PITCH

Securing funding isn’t just about having a great idea; it’s about telling a story that investors can’t ignore. In this dynamic session, leading investors and successful founders reveal what makes a winning pitch in 2026. From crafting a compelling narrative to showcasing traction and financials with confidence, you’ll learn how to stand out in a competitive market. Whether you’re seeking seed capital or scaling with Series A and beyond, this panel will give you the insider strategies to unlock funding and turn investor interest into investment.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• Understand how to craft a pitch that tells a compelling story investors can’t ignore, blending narrative, traction, and vision.

• Learn how to present financials, key metrics, and growth milestones with clarity and confidence to build credibility.

• Explore investor psychology and discover what makes them say “yes” in a crowded funding landscape.

• Gain strategies to position your business effectively for different stages, from seed to Series A and beyond.

• Walk away with practical tactics to convert interest into actual investment commitments.

10:45 - 11:15 - KEYNOTE

YOUR FUTURE DIGITAL WORKFORCE

PIERS LINNEY

Co-founder, Implement AI; Former Dragon on BBC’s Dragons’ Den 11:15 - 11:45 PANEL DISCUSSION

Capability to Culture: How Businesses Are Putting AI to Action

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• Discover how companies are moving beyond AI pilots and proofs of concept to embedding AI at scale across their operations.

• Learn how leaders are reshaping workflows, boosting productivity, and enabling smarter decision-making with AI.

• Understand how to overcome organisational resistance, build trust, and address adoption challenges.

AI is no longer just a buzzword; it’s transforming how businesses operate, compete, and grow. This panel explores how forward-thinking companies are moving beyond experimentation to embed AI into their strategy, workflows, and culture. Hear from industry leaders who are turning AI capability into tangible results, from automating processes and boosting productivity to empowering teams and reshaping decisionmaking. Discover how to overcome adoption challenges, build trust, and create an AI-ready culture that drives sustainable innovation and real business impact.

• Explore how creating an AI-ready culture can drive innovation and long-term business impact.

• Gain insights into practical applications, from automation to team empowerment, that deliver measurable results.

11.45 - 12:15

NEXT GEN FOUNDERS UNPLUGGED:

YOUNG GUNS QUESTION TIME

RAW, REAL, RELENTLESS

HOSTED BY

JOSEPH VALENTE

Apprentice winner; Founder, Trade Mastermind

Forget the polished pitch decks, this is the unfiltered truth about building a business today. In this candid conversation, nextgen founders share the highs, lows, and lessons that don’t make it to LinkedIn. From funding struggles and sleepless nights to breakthrough moments and unstoppable grit, you’ll get a frontrow seat to what it really takes to launch and scale in 2026. Expect honesty, humour, and hard-won insights designed to inspire the next wave of entrepreneurs to stay raw, stay real, and stay relentless.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• Hear the unfiltered realities of entrepreneurship, funding struggles, sleepless nights, and breakthrough wins.

• Learn how resilience, grit, and persistence fuel the journey from idea to scale.

• Understand the mental and emotional challenges founders face and the tactics they use to push through.

• Gain lessons on authenticity, staying grounded, and leading with honesty in a hype-driven startup world.

• Be inspired by candid stories that highlight both the personal and professional sides of building a business.

VICKY OWENS NICOLA GUNBY ALFIE WATTS KATHRYN BURN FRAN GRESSWELL

13.15 - 13:45

FIRESIDE CHAT:

SIMON WOODROFFE

Simon Woodroffe OBE, born 14 February 1952, is a British Entrepreneur and business guru. He is the founder of YO! Sushi, YOTEL and the YO! Company.

Amongst many TV and press appearances, Simon was an original dragon in Series One of the popular British TV programme, Dragons’ Den.

First working in theatre, rock shows and television, Simon fell into a depression after his divorce from the mother of his daughter, Charlotte Woodroffe. Feeling “desperation” he returned to his childhood aim to become a millionaire. He conceived and created YO! Sushi, opening the first restaurant on Poland Street, Soho, in 1997. The venture succeeded, creating a chain of restaurants and popularising conveyor belt sushi in Britain.

YO! Sushi and YOTEL have become global brands and Simon continues, through the YO! Company, to conceive of new YO! ventures.

13:45 - 14.15

THE FUTURE WORKFORCE:

BEYOND BURNOUT, TOWARDS BRILLIANCE

The conversation around work is shifting, from burnout and disengagement to balance, purpose, and peak performance. This panel explores how businesses are redesigning the employee experience to create thriving, high-performing teams. Learn how leaders are tackling mental health head-on, embracing flexibility, and using technology to unlock human potential. Discover the strategies that move companies beyond survival mode and into a future where people feel energised, inspired, and empowered to do their best work.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• Discover how the modern workplace is being redesigned to prioritise wellbeing, balance, and peak performance.

• Learn how leaders are embracing flexibility, remote-first models, and technology to support employees.

• Explore strategies that put mental health at the centre of organisational design.

• Gain insights into how businesses can move beyond survival mode to create energised, engaged, highperforming teams.

• Understand how purpose-driven cultures empower people to feel inspired and do their best work.

KNIGHT Director and Co-founder, Must Have Ideas

RETAIL REIMAGINED:

HIGH STREET WARS

Is the high street really dying, or is it being reborn? This panel dives into the future of retail, exploring the clash between digital convenience and physical experience. Hear from retail innovators, e-commerce disruptors, and consumer trend experts as they debate what’s next for the UK high street. From experiential stores and omnichannel strategies to shifting shopper behaviour and economic pressures, we’ll unpack what it takes to survive and thrive in the new retail battlefield.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• Examine whether the high street is declining or reinventing itself through innovation and consumer shifts.

• Learn how experiential retail is creating in-person value that digital shopping can’t replicate.

• Explore omnichannel strategies that blend convenience, digital tools, and physical presence.

• Understand how changing shopper behaviour, economic pressures, and competition are shaping the future of retail.

15.30 - 16:00

TURNER ANTHEA

Broadcaster; Founder,

By Anthea Skincare

As one of the UK’s much loved recognisable names, Anthea Turner is trusted by generations thanks to a vibrant career spanning four decades….and she continues to lead the conversation!

An icon of British media Anthea has successfully reinvented herself as a highly engaged influencer, business founder, author of 10 books, diverse speaker and trusted brand partner. She speaks to the most commercially valuable audience in the market today: women in midlife and beyond who are confident, curious, and making smart, stylish choices about how they live, age, and spend.

16:30 - 16:45 PANEL DISCUSSION

The Beauty Economy: Where Style Meets Business

Beauty isn’t just about products; it’s a multi-billion-pound industry shaping culture, driving innovation, and rewriting the rules of retail. This panel brings together founders, investors, and brand leaders to explore how creativity and commerce collide in the booming beauty economy. From disruptive DTC brands and influencerled launches to sustainability, tech, and evolving consumer expectations, discover what it takes to build, scale, and stand out in one of the most competitive markets today.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• Explore how the beauty industry influences culture while driving innovation and economic growth.

• Learn how disruptive DTC brands and influencer-led launches are reshaping consumer expectations.

• Understand the role of technology, sustainability, and inclusivity in building modern beauty businesses.

• Discover strategies for scaling in one of the most competitive and fast-moving markets.

• Gain tools to stand out with values-driven branding that connects authentically with consumers.

09:10 - 09:15 Opening by Oli Barrett MBE

09:15 - 10:00 INTERACTIVE LIVE SESSION

Spaces are limited and available on a first come first serve basis – sign up to secure your spot!

DAVE STUBBERFIELD

CX & Continuous Improvement

Consultant, Carter consultancy

IMPROVE YOUR BUSINESS

ONE SLICE OF TOAST AT A TIME

A slice of toast might seem simple, but it’s all about timing, the right tools, and personal taste. Whether it’s lightly golden or deeply crunchy, toast is a small but deliberate creation – just like building a business that truly resonates with customers.

In this session, we’ll use the humble slice of toast as a powerful metaphor for business growth. From choosing the bread (your people and processes) to selecting your toppings (your customer experience and brand), every step represents a choice in how you shape your business. We’ll explore how small, intentional changes in daily operations, employee behaviour, and customer touchpoints can lead to meaningful, long-term impact.

Get ready for a practical, thought-provoking session on how to make growth a consistent part of your culture — no grand gestures required, just better habits and smarter thinking, one slice at a time.

AIMS CONTENT

• Demonstrate how business growth stems from small, thoughtful decisions made consistently.

• Highlight the importance of aligning your people, processes, and platforms to customer expectations.

• Provide easy-to-adopt tactics that can immediately improve both internal culture and external experience.

• Encourage leaders to see everyday moments, like making toast, as opportunities to improve.

• Showcase the power of simplicity in driving Continuous Improvement techniques and customer loyalty.

OUTCOMES

• The anatomy of a slice of toast: using everyday actions to explore improvement, consistency, and creativity.

• Real-life examples of small business changes delivering outsized results.

• Introduction to Carter Consultancy’s five-element framework through the “toast” lens.

• Tools to identify where your business might be burning the toast – and how to fix it.

• Discover practical strategies for embedding Continuous Improvement into your business routines.

• Learn how to make customer and employee experiences more intentional, consistent, and engaging.

• Walk away with a renewed mindset for driving growth through simplicity and daily actions.

• Feel empowered to apply change management principles in your business.

10:15 - 11:00 INTERACTIVE LIVE SESSION

TIM WARNER

Co-Founder & Chairman, de Novo Solutions

Driving SME Growth Through Technological Innovation

Join Tim Warner, Co-Founder and Chairman of de Novo Solutions, for an inspiring and practical session tailored to the SME community. In just three years, de Novo has grown from a Welsh start-up to an award-winning digital transformation leader with operations across the UK and India. This session offers valuable insights into the company’s journey, highlighting key milestones, the role of technology in sustainable scaling, and the values driving its success.

Tim will share his experiences overcoming challenges, fostering innovation, and delivering excellence to clients. Discover how de Novo uses cutting-edge cloud technologies to transform back-office operations, empowering organisations to drive operational efficiency and sustainable growth.

11:05 - 11:50 INTERACTIVE LIVE SESSION

TOM BATCHELER

WW Director, Modern Work and Copilot, Microsoft

Accelerating Growth with AI-First Strategies for Growing Businesses

In this breakout session, Tom Batcheler, WW Director, Modern Work and Copilot at Microsoft, will delve into the transformative potential of AI for growing businesses. With his extensive experience in both start-ups and growth companies, Tom will share insights on how AI can be leveraged to scale operations, compete with larger enterprises, and achieve impressive returns on investment.

12:15 - 13:00 INTERACTIVE LIVE SESSION

HOST

EMMA JONES Small Business Commissioner

MAKING LIFE EASIER FOR SMALL BUSINESSES

At Elite Business Live this March, the UK Government will host a dedicated panel led by Emma Jones, the Small Business Commissioner, bringing together senior representatives from key government departments. The session will explore the full spectrum of government support available to SMEs, from access to finance and innovation funding, to export growth, digital adoption, and workforce skills. Designed to provide practical insights and direct guidance, the discussion will highlight real-world ways businesses can tap into government initiatives and services to drive growth and resilience. Attendees will gain a clear understanding of how different departments collaborate to champion small business success across the UK.

13:00 - 14:00 LEADERS LUNCH

DETAILS WILL BE ANNOUNCED SOON

14:15 - 15:00 INTERACTIVE LIVE SESSION

ALISON SHADRACK Founder & CEO, Adia PR

Building trust and scaling your business through purpose-driven PR

At Elite Business Live 2025, one of the standout sessions came from Alison Shadrack, founder of award-winning agency Adia PR. She delivered a masterclass in the art of trust-building through strategic PR. Sharing lessons from her own entrepreneurial journey, Alison brought both energy and expertise to the stage, reminding business leaders that visibility alone isn’t enough. With crowded marketplaces, trust fuels sustainable growth.

15:15 - 16:00 INTERACTIVE LIVE SESSION

TIKTOK MEANS BUSINESS

Over 200 million people in Europe use TikTok every month, not just for entertainment, but to discover new brands and products like yours. Find out how TikTok’s advertising solutions help your business turn discovery into measurable results across the entire customer journey. Make it happen today! Introduce TikTok as a Business Platform – Explain TikTok’s potential beyond entertainment, emphasizing its impact on brand visibility and customer engagement.

Demystify TikTok’s Audience and Content Strategies – Break down myths about TikTok’s user demographics and showcase content trends that resonate across industries.

Provide Practical Marketing Strategies – Share best practices for organic and paid TikTok marketing, covering campaign structures, audience targeting, and creative execution.

Explore Monetization and Advertising Solutions – Highlight TikTok’s ad formats, business tools, and how brands can optimize campaigns for sales and conversions.

Showcase Success Stories – Demonstrate real-life examples of brands that have effectively leveraged TikTok for growth and engagement.

16:00 - 16:30 INTERACTIVE LIVE SESSION

STEVE FORSDICK

Business Development Director

How to understand and use data to keep & acquire clients READY TO SUPERCHARGE YOUR NETWORK IN JUST 90 MINUTES?

At the centre of any successful business is good data process and being able to understand who your customers are, where they are and how to contact them. In this session we will look how you are currently using and managing any data you have on customers and prospects, how to keep it compliant and how data can be used efficiently and effectively to identify the size of your market, ensure calling campaigns are executed correctly and successfully, increase the engagement of email and social media campaigns and ensure that your business reputation is not undone by bad data and data processes.

16:30 - 18:00 VIP NETWORKING

Meet more people, more quickly – It’s a structured, fastpaced format that maximises every minute.

Make meaningful connections – Whether you’re looking for customers, suppliers, collaborators or joint venture partners, you’ll meet others with aligned goals.

Exclusive speaker access – Rub shoulders with some of the keynote speakers and panellists from the day. These aren’t just inspiring voices—they could become valuable contacts.

Build relationships that last – It’s not just networking; it’s relationship-building in a room full of people who get your journey.

Hosted by renowned connector Oli Barrett - this session promises to be energetic, engaging, and filled with opportunity.

Places are limited and filling fast – secure yours now to avoid missing out on one of the most valuable hours of the day.

Come armed with plenty of business cards and a clear, confident elevator pitch –you’ll be using both!