Future-proof your business

Regional conferences | Jul 26

South-East regional event: London

November 21st
8:30 am – 2:00 pm
Livery Hall, Guildhall, Gresham St, London EC2V 7HH

Highlighted speakers:

Paul Singh

Paul Singh Policy Lead for SMEs, The City of London Corporation, Co-Founder, EEDN

Mark Huxley

Mark Huxley Founder, Huxley Advisory Limited and Master of the Company of Entrepreneurs

Richard Godfrey

Richard Godfrey Chief Executive Officer and Founder, Rocketmakers

James Routley

James Routley Chief Operations Officer, Rocketmakers

Ugo Agbai

Ugo Agbai Co-Founder and Chief Strategy Officer, Ruka Hair

Carlo Gibbs

Carlo Gibbs Chief of Staff to the Small Business Commissioner

This event has now ended

In collaboration with the City of London Corporation, join us for our Help to Grow: Management Alumni Network event in London. We’ve gathered an excellent line-up of speakers to help you future-proof your business. Find out how you can use AI to optimise your business operations, listen to techniques to attract, retain and develop employees, and find out how to identify the gaps that will help you grow your business.

What you will get:

  • Lessons on strategy and growth from successful entrepreneurs
  • A deep dive into AI and how businesses can use it to optimise their productivity
  • Tips and tricks on how to attract talent and keep employees engaged

There will also be plenty of opportunities to network and build meaningful and professional connections with fellow Help to Grow: Management Alumni across your region. 

Agenda

08:30 Breakfast and registration

09:00 Opening Remarks

Paul Singh, Policy Lead for SMEs, The City of London Corporation, Co-Founder of EEDN

09:10 Conversation café 

We will be kickstarting the content with an engaging networking exercise. You’ll receive a set of innovative questions that will encourage you to get to know fellow business leaders, share your journeys and discuss the challenges you’ve faced along the way.

09:30 Keynote address: Lessons from a 40-year entrepreneurial journey

Having founded 11 companies and advised many more over the past 40 years, Entrepreneur, NED, and Non-Executive Chairman Mark Huxley has witnessed the rise and fall of businesses all over the UK. He believes that the path to success is paved with purpose, resilience, and finding your tribe.

In this keynote, Mark will share his thoughts on:

  • What makes a ‘good entrepreneur’
  • Establishing and communicating your core beliefs
  • Invoking and maintaining client loyalty

Join us for this lesson in strategy and mindset.

Mark Huxley, Founder, Huxley Advisory Limited and Master of the Company of Entrepreneurs

10:00 Unlocking the Future: AI Business Masterclass

Join Rocketmakers for an immersive and insightful AI business workshop, where innovation meets practicality.

In the rapidly evolving tech landscape, businesses seek ways to leverage AI’s power to drive growth, efficiency, and competitive advantage. This masterclass is designed to equip participants with the knowledge, tools, and strategies necessary to harness the potential of AI within their organisations.

Whether you’re in the early stages of looking to integrate AI into your product offerings or a digitally established enterprise seeking to optimise operations through automation and predictive analytics, this masterclass offers valuable insights into leveraging AI for your business needs.

Key takeaways:

  • AI fundamentals
  • Implementation tools and strategies
  • Examples of real-world applications

Richard Godfrey, Chief Executive Officer and Founder, Rocketmakers

James Routley, Chief Operations Officer, Rocketmakers

11:30 MID-MORNING BREAK

11:50 Employee recruitment, retention, and development panel

It has become increasingly difficult to motivate and retain staff. How can you keep employees engaged without sacrificing productivity?

During this panel discussion, expert practitioners and business leaders will share proven management tools and techniques that nurture talent, improve retention, and increase development.

Key takeaways will include:

  • Understanding what employees want and how to adapt
  • Innovative and agile strategies to become an employer of choice
  • Establishing meaning, flexibility, and trust
  • The importance of well-being for productivity
  • Effective conflict management

Belinda-Jane Dolan, Chief Executive Officer, The World Happiness Project

Joseph Zeratzion, Leadership and Performance Consultant, Coaching Lens  

Charles Rue, Global Head of Recruitment, S&P Global

Charlie Rogers, Founders Associate at The Portfolio Collective and Founder of Undefinable Community 

12:30 Keynote address: mind the gap

Ugo started her business Ruka Hair because she noticed that the key players in the market do not listen to their customers. Her vision was to create a company with an agile and responsive approach to meet the needs and wants of its clients.

So far, Ruka has raised over £5 million in venture capital funding and served over 20,000 customers globally.  

Join us to hear about Ugo’s incredible growth journey and how SMEs can leverage their size and position, raise capital, and connect with customers to grow their market share.

Ugo Agbai, Co-Founder and Chief Strategy Officer, Ruka Hair

13:00 KEynote Address: Get Paid on time and in good time

The Office of the Small Business Commissioner (OSBC) is an independent public body established under the Enterprise Act 2016 by the government to address late payments and unfavourable payment practices in the private sector. It supports small businesses with fewer than 50 employees struggling with the challenges created by late payments.

In this session, Carlo will share:

  • What small businesses can do to ensure they get paid within the contractually agreed timeframes.
  • How to have more confidence when contracting with larger businesses.
  • What tools, digital programmes, and support are available for small businesses to manage payment related challenges.

Carlo Gibbs, Chief of Staff to the Small Business Commissioner

13:20 Closing remarks

Paul Singh, Policy Lead for SMEs, The City of London Corporation, Co-Founder, EEDN

13:30 Lunch & networking

About our speakers

Paul Singh

Paul Singh Policy Lead for SMEs, The City of London Corporation, Co-Founder, EEDN

Mark Huxley

Mark Huxley Founder, Huxley Advisory Limited and Master of the Company of Entrepreneurs

Richard Godfrey

Richard Godfrey Chief Executive Officer and Founder, Rocketmakers

James Routley

James Routley Chief Operations Officer, Rocketmakers

Belinda-Jane Dolan

Belinda-Jane Dolan Chief Executive Officer, The World Happiness Project

Joseph Zeratzion

Joseph Zeratzion Leadership and Performance Consultant, Coaching Lens

Charles Rue

Charles Rue Global Head of Recruitment, S&P Global

Charlie Rogers

Charlie Rogers Founder, Undefinable Community, Founder's Associate, The Portfolio Collective

Ugo Agbai

Ugo Agbai Co-Founder and Chief Strategy Officer, Ruka Hair

Carlo Gibbs

Carlo Gibbs Chief of Staff to the Small Business Commissioner

IN COLLABORATION WITH

The City of London Corporation

The City of London Corporation

Resources

Please find follow up links from the speakers below:

Event presentation

Paul Singh

Rocketmakers

Belinda-Jane Dolan

Charlie Rogers

Carlo Gibbs

Our caterers for the day were The Clink Charity. Clink are a social enterprise who train approximately 800 people in prison each year, providing them with City & Guilds qualifications and a full Help, Guidance and Rehabilitation service post-release, for as long as our trainees require it. Find out more

Enquiries

If you have any questions, please get in touch by email at HTGM.Events@smallbusinesscharter.org or contact the Small Business Charter by phone on 020 7634 9584.

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