KEYNOTE STAGE
Wednesday 8th October
DAY 1
Welcome to the Festival of Entrepreneurs
Time: 09:30–09:45
Theme
Angle
INTRODUCTION
Chairman remarks
Speakers
Sir Liam Fox
Chair, Festival of Entrepreneurs
The state of scale-up: why this moment matters
Time: 09:50–10:20
Theme
Angle
SCALING UP
Overview
Speakers
Irene Graham
CEO, ScaleUp Institute
Can Britain compete? What growing businesses need to thrive in 2025 and beyond
Time: 10:30–11:20
Theme
Angle
Speakers
ECONOMY
Productivity
Martin McTague OBE
Chair, FSB
Louis Taylor CBE
CEO, British Business Bank
Janine Birt
CEO, Innovate Finance
Anthony Impey
CEO, Be the Business
Moderator: Sir Liam Fox
Chair, Festival of Entrepreneurs
From start-up to £4.1 billion: building one of Britain’s biggest success stories
Time: 11:30–12:10
Theme
Angle
FIRESIDE CHAT
The story of HomeServe
Speakers
Richard Harpin
Founder, HomeServe
Host: Alex Chisnall
Co-Founder, Festival of Entrepreneurs
AI with impact: how founders are using it to scale smarter
Time: 12:20–13:00
Theme
Angle
AI
Productivity
Speakers
Piers Linney
Co-Founder, Implement AI
James Smith
Founder, Critical Cloud
Dominic Kos
Founder, Clever Fox AI
Sabrina Stocker
Founder, 2 Comma PR
Moderator: Andrew Walker
Talent that scales: how top founders build teams that drive growth
Time: 14:00–14:40
Theme
Angle
TALENT
Building teams
Speakers
Jo Dalton
Founder, JD&Co
Roei Samuel
Founder, Connectd
Niki Avram
Founder, Niki Avraam & Workforce Expert, Workwell Labs
Simon Gardiner
Co-Founder, Carrington West
Moderator: Rob Hanna
Venture-backed: what today’s investors are really looking for
Time: 14:50–15:30
Theme
Angle
INVESTMENT
Venture capital
Speakers
Dom McGregor
Founder, Fearless Adventures
Rupert Lyle
Fund Principal, West Midlands Co-Investment Fund
Sarah Finegan
Investor, Antler
Moderator: Andrew Walker
From startup shelf to national brand: how consumer founders scale fast
Time: 15:40–16:20
Theme
Angle
GROWTH
Consumer brand growth
Speakers
Claire Warner
Founder, Æcorn Aperitifs
Laura Fullerton
Founder, Monk
Melissa Snover
Founder, Remedy Health
Mark Rushmore
Co-Founder, SURI Toothbrush
Moderator: Alex Chisnall
Co-Founder, Festival of Entrepreneurs
The AI shift: why every business is about to change — and how founders can lead it
Time: 16:25–17:15
Theme
Angle
FIRESIDE CHAT
Building an AI-only business
Speakers
Piers Linney
Co-Founder, Implement AI
Host: Alex Chisnall
Co-Founder, Festival of Entrepreneurs
The story of LUSH: building a global brand with values at its heart
Time: 17:20–18:00
Theme
Angle
FIRESIDE CHAT
The story of LUSH Cosmetics
Speakers
Rowena Bird
Co-Founder, LUSH
Host: Alex Chisnall
Co-Founder, Festival of Entrepreneurs