Alumni National Conference

---

08:30 Breakfast and registration 

Tea, coffee, and networking.

---

09:30 Opening Remarks from the conference chair

---

09:40 welcome address

---

09:45 Ministerial address: TBC

---

10:00 Dash Water: transforming your mission into a revolution

A clear mission and strategy can lead to incredible growth and global success. With a mission to use wonky fruit and veg to revolutinise the soft drink industry, Alex Wright and his co-founder have raised over £21 million, expanded into 20 international markets, and are projected to sell 50 million cans in 2025.

Alex will share how they navigated the operational challenges of setting up, scarce cash flow, and unexpected stock shortages.

---

10:25 Mid-morning Break

Tea, coffee, and networking.

---

10:45 Navigating through uncertainty Panel

This panel will cover key topics such as digital transformation, trade and export, and access to finance. Gain insights from decision makers at national business support agencies on how changing strategies and government priorities can empower SME growth.

---

11:25 Fireside chat with Andrew Bloch: PR stunts & guerrilla marketing

Chaired by:

---

11:50 Planet Organic

With her mission to promote health in the community, Renée challenged conventional retailing and showed that value-led, commercially driven business, is good business. Join us to hear her journey of founding the UK’s first organic supermarket and how she was able to change the way we think about food.

---

12:15 Lunch

---

13:15 Breakout 1

Marketing matters: find an audience

Understanding your target audience and delivering a message that resonates is at the core of effective marketing. In this session you will:

• Learn to identify key audiences and execute results-driven strategies.
• Practical segmentation methods and key criteria for identifying profitable segments.
• Building your value proposition.

The art and science of pricing

Pricing is a powerful yet often misunderstood tool for business success. This session will share:

• Typical mistakes most businesses make with their pricing.
• Psychology of pricing – simple techniques to help give you an advantage.
• The ultimate pricing strategy that works for any business.

Resilience through crisis & change 

Leading through times of crisis and change can be challenging for SME leaders, as it often impacts personal wellbeing, resilience, and the overall culture of the organisation. This session will help you:

• Reflect on your own wellbeing challenges and find practical solutions to help you sustain your resilience.
• Share your experiences with other SME leaders on what works and doesn’t work. 
• Explore how you can role-model positive behaviours that can shape the wellbeing culture of your businesses.  

---

14:15 Movement break

---

14:20 Breakout 2

Strategy and business success

An effective strategy that aligns with your initiatives ensures long-term success. This session will explore:

• The forces that shape an organisation’s strategic direction, how to understand them and ways to adapt.
• A range of successful SME strategies.
• Strategies for SMEs selling within supply chains and those engaging directly with customers in the market.

Sales made easy

Discipline, adaptability, and communication are some key factors essential for driving growth in sales. This session will delve into:

• Building and managing an optimal sales pipeline.
• Lead generating skills and tools.
• Building and nurturing customer relationships.
• Building scalable sales processes that can handle growth.

Employee engagement: building healthy and happy teams

In today’s uncertain economic environment, every leader needs a happy, productive, and agile team who can adapt and perform when it really counts.  

• Explore how you can role-model positive behaviours that can shape the wellbeing culture of your businesses.  
• Creating a culture of purpose, flexibility and trust.
• How happiness and satisfaction impact workers productivity, 
• Understanding what motivates your employees.

---

15:20 movement break

---

15:30 Breakout 3

Identifying and overcoming imposter syndrome

Many leaders struggle with imposter syndrome, especially those in high-pressure roles. This supportive session will provide:

• A clear understanding of how imposter syndrome manifests in leadership roles.
• Practical tools and strategies to build confidence and maintain a positive and empathetic leadership mindset.
• Connect with fellow SME leaders and industry experts to share stories, experiences and coping mechanisms.

AI and digital transformation

Integrating artificial intelligence into your business process can enhance efficiency, streamline operations, and boost productivity. This session will offer:

• An overview of general AI capabilities and platforms.
• How AI can produce valuable data & analytics to help inform strategy.
• How AI-led automation can save on operational costs.
• Ways to tailor AI to tackle specific business requirements.

SME fundraising options

Securing funding can be overwhelming but it is a critical step for many SMEs. This session will outline:

• Funding options available to SMEs and how to assess which one is right for you.
• Key steps to get your business “investor-ready” and common reasons why applications are rejected.
• How to communicate your vision, scalability, and value proposition effectively.

---

16:30 Conference ends

---

17:00 Doors close

---

Please note: speakers, timings or format of our events may change due to circumstances beyond our control. We will inform delegates of any changes at the earliest opportunity.