Britain’s entrepreneurs are gathering to grow
8-9 October 2025 | NEC Birmingham
Join 5,000 founders, business owners, and decision-makers for two days of strategy, tools, funding insights, and connections — built around your scale-up journey.
5,000 growth-driven business owners
200+ leading speakers
100+ solution providers
90 sessions across 5 stages
networking meetups
Welcome to the Festival of Entrepreneurs
This is the UK’s most ambitious gathering of scaling business founders — a festival of ideas, insight, and energy designed to help you take the next step.
Whether you’re preparing for funding, leveling up your team, refining your tech stack, or just want to step back and focus on growth — you’ll find two days of practical content, powerful connections, and honest conversations with people who’ve done it and are doing it now.
No fluff. No filler. Just what you need to scale smarter.
Learn from the founders behind the UK’s biggest brands — and the leaders shaping the future
You’ll hear from iconic entrepreneurs, fast-growth scale-up founders, and the CEOs behind the UK’s most important business support networks.
From kitchen-table start-ups to £1bn+ exits, and from regional business champions to the national leaders driving funding and innovation — these are the people who’ve built, backed, and scaled success.
Supported by CEO industry leaders.
Join a community of 5,000 founders, leaders, and future collaborators
You won’t just hear great ideas — you’ll meet the people behind them.
Across live sessions, networking meet-ups, you’ll connect with fellow founders, industry experts, and the partners who can help you move faster.
Whether you're seeking insight, support, or just someone who understands the scale-up grind — this is where new ideas and new relationships start.
As well as hearing from the big-name, big-success entrepreneurs on the keynote stage there are many practical workshops to help you:
✅Get investment ready & meet funders
Learn what different funders & investors want and how to prepare
✅Scale smarter with AI, tech, and automation
See how growing SMEs are using AI, tech & automation
✅Win more customers
Discover cutting-edge marketing techniques and brand building
✅Lead with confidence
Build better teams, culture & mindset
✅Meet your next collaborator
Be among entrepreneurs who are on the same journey as you
✅Learn from the best
200 speakers including the founders of LUSH, Grenade, Ted Baker, and Homeserve
What leading entrepreneurs and trade voices are saying
“Entrepreneurs hold the key to future growth, innovation, and prosperity...”
The Rt Hon Sir Liam Fox
Festival of Entrepreneurs Chair
& Former Secretary of State for International Trade
“Entrepreneurs build the future - and the Festival of Entrepreneurs is a place where that future accelerates.”
Piers Linney
Co-Founder Implement AI
& Former BBC Dragons Den investor
The themes that power scale
These six themes reflect what fast-growing businesses need to scale — and where most entrepreneurs need support.
From accessing capital to building a high-performing team, standing out in the market, embracing new tech, and developing the mindset to lead — no one scales with just one piece of the puzzle.
That’s why the Festival is built around content that connects the dots — combining insight, strategy, and tools across funding, tech, brand, people, innovation, and leadership.
Whatever stage you’re at, you’ll find ideas that move you forward — and experts who’ve been there before.
Interested in exhibiting? Showcase your solutions at the UK’s best scale-up event
The Festival offers flexible exhibiting, speaking, sponsorship, and partnership options helping you connect with entrepreneurs at a pivotal point in their journey.
With thousands of attendees actively investing in growth, this is a rare opportunity to build trusted relationships and showcase your expertise to the right audience.
Partners include
