EBL_Event_Guide_26 by Elite Business Magazine

9.00 - 18.00 VIP STUDIO ENTRY

9.00 - 17.00 LIVESTREAM BROADCAST

17.30 - 18.30 VIP NETWORKING

LEONARDO ROYAL, ST PAUL’S, LONDON, EC4V 5AJ

FOR AMBITIOUS LEADERS

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

WHEN WE CLIMB TOGETHER

CEOs and owners of small and medium sized businesses must often navigate rugged, unpredictable terrain alone. But as a Vistage member, you’re traveling a proven, time-honored path to new levels of success. So go ahead and set your sights on that next great peak — because your peers and your guide have your back.

LIVE A LIFE OF CLIMB

Scan the QR code to find out how the world’s leading CEO peer advisory and executive coaching organisation can help you reach new heights.

BE INSPIRED TAKE ACTION

46 Carter Consultancy: Improve your business one slice of toast at a time

48 Sage: AI adoption for UK small businesses

52 de Novo Solutions: Innovation Is Not the Tech It’s the Discipline to Use It

53 UK Government: Making life easier for small businesses

56 Helm: Leaders Lunch

58 TikTok: Turning Viewers into Shoppers 59 FIRESIDE CHAT: Sam Thompson & Ben Hacker, Content Jungle

60 Adia PR: How to Become the Brand Humans Trust and AI Recommends

61 Market Location: Setting the standard for trusted UK B2B Data

64 Clear Course: Picking tools that work

Connect with a TikTok Expert!

Grow Your Business on TikTok

Connect with an expert today and discover how to launch or scale your brand with TikTok for Business. Whether you’re just exploring the platform, just getting started with TikTok ads, or ready to optimize your campaigns, we’re here to help.

Make an impact in the For You page and beyond

Elite Business Live 2026 is bringing together some of the biggest names in business to offer guidance, inspiration, and support to SMEs and fast-growing companies

WHERE AMBITION MEETS OPPORTUNITY

What to Expect:

• Keynotes – Learn from top entrepreneurs who’ve been in your shoes and built thriving businesses.

• Interactive Panel Discussions – Get answers to your biggest business questions of 2025.

• Hands-On Workshops – Tackle real challenges with expert guidance.

• Networking – Meet industry leaders, investors, and peers who can help drive your business forward.

Join the UK’s leading event for high-growth businesses! Elite Business Live 2026 is a two-day powerhouse of inspiration, innovation, and industry insights. Packed with dynamic keynote speakers, interactive workshops, expert-led panels, and unparalleled networking opportunities, this event is designed to accelerate your business journey.

Designed for Entrepreneurs, Built for Success

At Elite Business Live 2026, you’ll connect with likeminded business leaders, gain first-hand insights from industry pioneers, and uncover real-world strategies to scale your company. Whether you’re navigating challenges, seeking inspiration or looking for fresh ideas to fuel your next growth phase, this event is your catalyst for success.

More Than Just an Event – A Community for Growth

This isn’t just about listening; it’s about engagement, action, and transformation. Our free-to-attend seminar sessions will help you refine your strategy, spark innovation, and rediscover your passion for business.

Elite Business Live 2026 is your chance to connect, collaborate, and create lasting professional relationships that will shape your future. Are you ready to elevate your business to the next level?

Voted as one of GQ’s Most Connected Men, Oli is often referred to as the hardest-working man in networking and even earned an MBE for his business activities. A serial founder, Oli has helped to start numerous ventures, facing every challenge imaginable

EVENT HOST

OLI BARRETT MBE

VOTED as one of GQ’s Most Connected Men, Oli is often referred to as the hardest-working man in networking and even earned an MBE for his business activities. A serial founder, Oli has helped to start numerous ventures, facing every challenge imaginable.

OLI BARRETT is a serial co-founder, connector, and presenter, regularly hosting major business, technology, and entrepreneurship events, including London Tech Week, The Great British Entrepreneur Awards, and The Times Growth Summits.

He serves on the advisory boards of the Centre for Entrepreneurs, One Million Mentors, and Tech London Advocates and is a Fellow of Zinc.

Oli has co-founded multiple ventures, including Tenner (the UK’s largest schools enterprise challenge), Volunteer It Yourself (helping young people renovate youth clubs), and TOTS (Turn on the Subtitles), a campaign improving children’s literacy. He also co-founded StartUp Britain, leading to PitchUp Britain (with John Lewis and Sainsbury’s) and PopUp Britain, supporting retail startups.

His sustainability efforts include co-founding Clean and Cool, helping cleantech businesses connect with partners, customers, and investors. He also founded The Connector Unit, linking businesses, and co-created Ethos and The Rainmakers.

Oli is a shareholder in Calm, Troubadour Theatres, and Better Space and hosts The Lens podcast with Business in the Community. He also created the Build a Better Network course, helping professionals expand their influence.

With a career dedicated to entrepreneurship, collaboration, and innovation, Oli continues to support businesses and leaders worldwide.

Your competitors found funding you didn't know

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More time for what matters

Access software designed for SMEs and simplify the way your business runs.

So you spend less time reacting, and more time on the work that matters most.

Sector-specific software

Practical, intuitive and purpose-built systems. Not retro-fitted enterprise software.

Embedded payments

Tailored payment solutions that live within your software and simplify workflows.

Business growth tools

Integrated tools that help you attract, manage and retain customers in one system.

Long-term partnership

Experts who understand your business, your challenges, and support you long term.

17:00 - 18:15 11TH & 12TH MARCH

VIP NETWORKING

READY TO SUPERCHARGE YOUR NETWORK IN JUST 90 MINUTES?

Meet more people, more quickly – It’s a structured, fast-paced 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.

HOSTED BY OLI BARRETT

TOP TIP

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

READY TO REACH THE UK WITH OUTDOOR ADVERTISING?

Reach up to 33M people a month

200+ towns nationwide

Featured on high streets and in social environments, Alight Media connects your brand with communities in the real world.

Digital billboards | Bus shelter screens |

Full motion screens in leisure & hospitality venues

ONE TO WATCH

INTERACTIVE LIVE SESSION

AI ADOPTION FOR UK SMALL BUSINESSES

Interactive Live Session | March 12th 2026 10:00 - 10:45

Can you trust AI? Learn practical frameworks for evaluating AI providers, understanding data security, and maintaining transparency in AI-assisted decision-making. What certifications matter? What questions should you ask vendors? How do you ensure you’re not outsourcing critical judgement?

How accurate is AI, really?

In accounting and finance, accuracy isn’t negotiable. Discover how to measure AI output quality, test systems properly, and handle mistakes when they happen. Hear from businesses that have successfully reduced human error through automation.

Where is AI actually adding value? Cut through the noise to identify where AI genuinely helps your business – automating admin, supporting decisions, or buying back time for growth. Learn to evaluate tools based on your actual workflows, not vendor promises.

Managing the change successfully. AI adoption often requires changing established processes. Explore how to overcome team resistance, build confidence through small wins, and integrate new tools without disrupting what already works.

What skills do you need? You don’t need to be technical, but you do need foundational skills. We’ll demystify prompt engineering and explain what “AI skills” actually means in practical terms.

Why humans are still the key.

The best AI augments human capabilities rather than replaces them. Learn how to maintain the human touch while leveraging AI to enhance professional judgement and accessibility.

This isn’t another AI hype session. It’s a practical conversation about using AI to run your small business better, right now. You’ll leave with frameworks for evaluation, questions to ask vendors, and confidence to take your next steps.

Limited spaces availablebook your space below.

BOOK SESSION

Senior Director, Global Integrated Campaigns,Sage

Product Marketing Director, Sage

RICH MOLONEY

BRYSON

SCARTH

Elite Business Live, Leonardo Royal, St Paul’s, London, EC4V 5AJ

DAY 1 BE INSPIRED

MARKETING PLANS YOU CAN UNDERSTAND

We are a Chesterfield-based social media agency and training provider that helps businesses create marketing plans they can understand, track, and improve over time.

We specialise in one-off marketing strategy sessions, done-for-you agency

support, and practical training for teams who want to take more control in-house. Our approach is led by video-first social media plans, designed to grow brand visibility while supporting real revenue growth.

hellosocialavenue.com

DAY 1 SCHEDULE

09:15 Show Opens with: OLI BARRETT MBE

09:25 Opening Remarks MINISTER MCDOUGALL MP

09:30 - 10:00 KEYNOTE

LOUISE HILL

From purpose to powerhouse: Building a mission led business that scales

10:00 - 10:30 PANEL DISCUSSION

Funding unlocked: Master the perfect pitch

10:45 - 11:15 - KEYNOTE

PIERS LINNEY

Your future digital workforce

11:15 - 11:45 PANEL DISCUSSION

Capability to culture: How businesses are putting AI to action

11.45 - 12:15 YOUNG GUNS

Next gen founders unplugged: Raw, Real, Relentless

Hosted by Joseph Valente Apprentice winner; Founder, Trade Mastermind

13.15 - 13:45 FIRESIDE CHAT

SIMON WOODROFFE MBE

13:45 - 14.15 PANEL DISCUSSION The Future Workforce: Beyond Burnout, Towards Brilliance

14:15 - 14:45 - Keynote

AMY KNIGHT

£0-£80 million - How’d that happen?’

14:45 - 15:15 PANEL Retail Reimagined: High Street Wars — Dead or Alive?

15.30 - 16:00 FIRESIDE CHAT

ANTHEA TURNER

16:00 - 16:30 PANEL DISCUSSION The Beauty Economy: Where Style Meets Business

16.30 - 17:00 FIRESIDE CHAT

17.00 - 18:30

FROM PURPOSE TO POWERHOUSE: BUILDING A MISSION LED BUSINESS THAT SCALES

LOUISE HILL

Financial education campaigner; Founder, GoHenry

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

AI is no longer just a buzzword; it’s transforming how businesses operate, compete, and grow. This panel explores how forwardthinking 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 decision-making. Discover how to overcome adoption challenges, build trust, and create an AI-ready culture that drives sustainable innovation and real business impact.

Former Television Presenter (ITV News, BBC), Entrepreneur & Investor

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.

• 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.

AI Expert, Futurist Speaker, and Podcast Host

Founder & CEO, Zero Gravity

Managing Director, Small & Medium Business, Cisco EMEA

Co-founder, The Gen AI Academy

AI Strategist & Keynote Speaker; Founder, Smarter HQ

NEXT GEN FOUNDERS UNPLUGGED:

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, next-gen 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 front-row 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.

YOUNG

GUNS QUESTION TIME

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

Founder, Socially Speaking Media

Co-founder & CMO, CLIQ

Travel expert; Winner of Series 4 Race Across The World; YoungMinds and Winston’s Wish Ambassador

Finalist BBC1’s The Apprentice; Inspiring entrepreneur; Owner, ‘My Christmas Pyjamas’

Founder, Riviera Iced Tea

The UK business data that powers better decisions.

Market Location helps B2B teams identify, prioritise and reach the right UK businesses using accurate, compliant data and insight.

Built for:

• Sales teams that want higher-quality leads

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Why Market Location:

• UK-focused, deeply verified business data

• Flexible data, services and platform solutions

• Designed to fit around how your team actually works

Trusted by UK growth-focused B2B teams.

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.

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, high-performing teams.

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

Managing Director, Vistage UK

Serial Entrepreneur, Founder, Finitie; Assessor/ Monitoring Officer Innovate UK; Author, It Ain’t Over ’Til…

Entrepreneur; Founder, Monk

Lifestyle Medicine Physician, Longevity Coach & Corporate Wellness Expert

HIGH STREET WARS — DEAD OR ALIVE?

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 - FIRESIDE CHAT

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.

16:00 - 16:30

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 influencer-led 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.

CHLOE WALSH

LUCIE MACLEOD

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 valuesdriven branding that connects authentically with consumers.

Founder & Director, The Beauty Crop

Founder, SE-LF: Spa & Self-care Products,

Founder, Clomaná

Founder & CEO, Hair Syrup

NING CHEAH

DAVID ALLERTON

16.30 - 17:00 - FIRESIDE CHAT

WHITBREAD MBE FATIMA

Javelin World Champion & Olympic medalist

Fatima talks about her rise to success as an Olympic medallist and the trials and tribulations as she reached her goal. In addition she talks animatedly about her TV career from I’m a Celebrity to her more recent documentaries. Fatima has recently launched a campaign called ‘Fatima’s UK Campaign’, aimed at helping children in care and care leavers. She talks about how the aim is for children to fulfil their positive, potential in an environment which fosters self-worth and confidence by means of providing the necessary support & resources to give each youngster the skills to become happy and successful members of society.

Supporting businesses with their event needs:

From small meetings to large conferences, discover flexible solutions that fit your vision and budget – all while supporting sustainable practices.

Why Choose Us?

Versatile Event Spaces

From small meetings to large conferences. We have meeting rooms and event spaces for 3 to 500 guests.

In-House Teams

Our AV and catering teams are on-site to ensure everything runs smoothly on your event day.

Dedicated Support Team

Our experienced venue sales team and operations team are there to support you with your event from start to finish.

Prime Location

Easily accessible by tube, rail and bus with a prestigious central London address.

INSPIRING BRITAIN’S SME BUSINESSES

Business Buzz is the fuss-free networking group taking the industry by storm. Our events are vibrant and informal and cost only £10 plus VAT.

Today, Business Buzz thrives across 16 regions with over 60 groups in the UK. Our monthly gatherings create a relaxed space for local businesses to connect.

There's no membership, no pressure. We know running a business is demanding, so ﬂexibility is critical. It's all about connecting and exploring potential collaborations in a friendly, low-pressure environment.

For more information, visit: www.business-buzz.org

www.business-buzz.org

ONE TO WATCH

INTERACTIVE LIVE SESSION

Interactive Live Session | March 12th 2026 16:00 - 16:30

B2B data has never been more accessible yet trust in data quality has never been more fragmented. As businesses scale, the challenge is no longer access to data, but knowing which data can be relied upon to drive revenue, protect brand reputation and support longterm operations.

This session explores what trusted UK B2B data really means in practice and why it has become a critical part of modern business infrastructure. Rather than focusing on the risks of poorquality data alone, the session sets a clearer benchmark for what good looks like, from verification and governance through to compliance and commercial outcomes.

Attendees will gain a practical understanding of how highquality, verified data underpins

performance across sales, marketing and operations, and why it is essential for enabling technologies such as AI to function effectively.

The session will examine how organisations can move from reactive data decisions towards a more structured, standards-led approach that scales with growth.

Through real-world examples, the session demonstrates how trusted data reduces operational risk, improves return on investment, and creates a more resilient foundation for business decisionmaking in the UK market.

Limited spaces availablebook your space below.

BOOK SESSION

STEVE FORSDICK

Business Development Director, Market Location

Elite Business Live, Leonardo Royal, St Paul’s, London, EC4V 5AJ

TAKE ACTION DAY 2 12TH MARCH

Be like Sarah

DAY 2 SCHEDULE

09:15 Carter Consultancy: Improve your business one slice of toast at a time

10:00 Sage: AI adoption for UK small businesses

11:00 de Novo Solutions: Innovation Is Not the Tech - It’s the Discipline to Use It

11:45 UK Government: making life easier for small businesses

12:30 Helm: Leaders Lunch

13:30 TikTok: Turning Viewers into Shoppers

14:15 Fireside chat: Sam Thompson & Ben Hacker, Content Jungle

15:15 Adia PR: How to Become the Brand Humans Trust and AI Recommends

16:00 Market Location: Setting the standard for trusted UK B2B Data

16:30 Clear Course: Picking tools that work

17:00 VIP Networking

09:15 - 10:00 INTERACTIVE LIVE SESSION

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.

AIMS

• 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.

CONTENT

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

OUTCOMES

for embedding Continuous Improvement into your business routines.

• 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.

• 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.

For more information about this session or to book your place please click below:

BOOK SESSION

Please note, spaces are limited and available on a first come first serve basis – sign up to secure your spot!

Where Decision Makers Meet

- 10:45

AI ADOPTION FOR UK SMALL BUSINESSES

RICH MOLONEY

Senior Director, Global Integrated Campaigns, Sage

STEPHEN JAMES

Founder, British Veterans Owned CHAIR

Can you trust AI? Learn practical frameworks for evaluating AI providers, understanding data security, and maintaining transparency in AIassisted decision-making. What certifications matter? What questions should you ask vendors? How do you ensure you’re not outsourcing critical judgement?

How accurate is AI, really? In accounting and finance, accuracy isn’t negotiable. Discover how to measure AI output quality, test systems properly, and handle mistakes when they happen. Hear from businesses that have successfully reduced human error through automation.

STEPHEN MORGAN SOPHIA ADHAMI

Co-Founder, British Veterans Owned

Senior Director Product Office, Sage

Why humans are still the key. The best AI augments human capabilities rather than replaces them. Learn how to maintain the human touch while leveraging AI to enhance professional judgement and accessibility.

BOOK SESSION

Please note, spaces are limited and available on a first come first serve basis – sign up to secure your spot!

WeareBeyond Global is a multi-generational organisation dedicated to unlocking human potential at pivotal moments in life. Through community, learning and corporate collaboration, we create environments where people reconnect with their skills, strengthen confidence, and step forward into meaningful personal and professional growth.

Our ecosystem brings together two platforms: Beyondtheschoolrun — our award-winning platform supporting mothers to connect with their skills and talents, empowering them to grow personally and professionally.

Beyond School — unlocking the potential of young people and bridging the gap between education and the world of work.

We deliver impact through:

• A global digital platform offering curated pathways across careers, entrepreneurship, wellbeing and reskilling

• Local Places of Growth circles hosted in accessible community venues

• Live events that spark connection and momentum

• Corporate programmes designed to retain talent, support inclusion, and strengthen engagement

Together, these initiatives create a lifelong growth journey — connecting individuals, communities, and organisations in a shared commitment to unlocking potential.

WeAreBeyond Global exists to help people step into their strengths, pursue their ambitions, and thrive.

The UK’s small business community are collectively its biggest employers but get very little support or recognition from government.

Your Business Community (YBC) exists to provide small businesses with this much needed support and representation.

YBC members get unlimited free advice, discounts on lots of business services and protection against several potential prosecutions. They also have access to finance and can take advantage of offers from our partners.

11:00 - 11:45

INNOVATION IS NOT THE TECH - IT’S THE DISCIPLINE TO USE IT

MARK SWEENY Founder & Chief Executive, de Novo Solutions

Many SMEs invest heavily in technology, yet fail to see real impact. The problem is rarely the tools themselves. It is the discipline to use them consistently, correctly and in real time.

In this candid and practical session, Mark Sweeny, Founder and Chief Executive of de Novo Solutions, challenges common assumptions around digital transformation. Drawing on de Novo’s rapid growth from a Welsh start-up to an award-winning technology consultancy operating across the UK and internationally, Mark shares what actually drives performance once the software is in place.

This session explores a reality Mark has seen repeatedly: businesses buying powerful systems but continuing to operate manually, retrospectively or inconsistently. True innovation, he argues, comes from embedding discipline into day-to-day behaviour. Using technology to see what is really happening in the business, particularly around cash flow, operational performance and decisionmaking.

transformed accountability and outcomes within de Novo, this session reframes innovation as a leadership and discipline challenge, not a technology one.

BOOK SESSION

Please note, spaces are limited and available on a first come first serve basis – sign up to secure your spot!

11:45 - 12:30 INTERACTIVE LIVE SESSION

MAKING LIFE EASIER FOR SMALL BUSINESSES

RICHARD JEFFERY

National Director, The Growth Company

TRACEY KILTY

Start Up Loans Relationship Director, British Business Bank

CHAIR

EMMA JONES

Small Business Commissioner

EUNICE MWALE SALLY LONG

Managing Director, Lovehands Care Services

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.

BOOK SESSION

Please note, spaces are limited and available on a first come first serve basis – sign up to secure your spot!

Interim Deputy Director for Business, Innovation & Investment Policy, Intellectual Property Office

PAULA CROFT

Director for Small Business, Department for Business and Trade

12:30 - 13:30 LEADERS LUNCH

HELM LEADERS LUNCH

10 business leaders from Helm Club will be attending on the day, and there will be one joining each table to facilitate the conversations.

Join Helm for the Elite Leaders Lunch, an exclusive invitation-only experience at Elite Business Live designed for ambitious SME leaders looking to scale, grow and learn from those who have been there before.

Taking place on Day 2 from 1:00pm to 2:05pm, the Leaders Lunch brings together a select group of VIP Studio attendees for hosted table discussions led by influential entrepreneurs, advisors and thought leaders from across the SME ecosystem.

This is not traditional networking. Each table is hosted by a respected leader, creating a focused, informal environment where you can share challenges, exchange ideas and gain practical insights from peers and experienced business figures.

How it works

• Complimentary for VIP Studio attendees

• Limited places, allocated on a first-come, first-served basis

• Enjoy canapés while taking part in guided, meaningful conversations

• Designed to finish in time for the next live session at 2:15pm

Who should attend

The Leaders Lunch is ideal for:

• Open exclusively to Founders & CEOs of scale-ups >£1m in annual turnover

• Scaling businesses (£1m+ turnover / 15+ employees)

• SMEs looking for strategic insight, peer learning and meaningful connections

Why attend

• Learn directly from successful entrepreneurs and advisors

• Build relationships with peers facing similar growth challenges

• Gain fresh perspectives in a relaxed, highvalue setting

• Connect with the Helm community and wider Elite Business network

BOOK SESSION

Please note, spaces are limited and available on a first come first serve basis – sign up to secure your spot!

13:30 - 14:15

UNLOCK GROWTH WITH TIKTOK SHOP: TURNING VIEWERS INTO SHOPPERS

ED GILMARTIN

Partnerships Lead, TikTok Shop UK

GEORGE MEAGHER

Business Development Lead , TikTok Shop

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.

You will learn how to:

• TikTok Shop 101: How Discovery Commerce changes the way shoppers buy

• Understand TikTok’s audience

• Get inspired by success stories

• Navigate GMV MAX to reach customers effectively

• Apply creative best practices that drive real results

BOOK SESSION

Please note, spaces are limited and available on a first come first serve basis – sign up to secure your spot!

14:15 - 15:00 FIRESIDE CHAT

From staying relevant to redefining the creator economy

Sam Thompson and Ben Hacker, founders of Content Jungle, will join us live for a powerful fireside conversation on relevance, creativity and the future of content.

Many will know Sam from his television career. Over the years, he has built a recognisable and highly successful presence across broadcast, digital and live media. Sam has navigated the realities of staying visible in an increasingly crowded content landscape and turned that experience into something bigger.

As host of the hit podcast ‘Staying Relevant’, Sam has explored what it truly takes to maintain influence and impact in a fast-moving world. That journey did not stop at media. It evolved into entrepreneurship, crowdfunding and the launch of a new platform, designed to fix what is broken in the creator economy.

Together with his co-founder Ben Hacker, a seasoned marketing and product leader who has worked with global brands including L’Oréal, MasterCard and Coca-Cola, Sam launched Content Jungle.

Why? Because content needs to change.

In today’s world, brands and creators are under pressure to produce more, faster. AI has accelerated output. Templates are everywhere. Feeds are saturated. Yet quality has quietly suffered.

Creators waste hours searching for trusted videographers, editors and photographers. Skilled freelancers are treated like commodities on faceless platforms. Payments are delayed. Standards slip. Originality becomes optional. Content Jungle exists to raise the bar.

The platform connects brands and creators with vetted production professionals, while managing job postings, applications, payments and invoicing in one seamless ecosystem. It champions real creative skill. It props up the freelance community rather than undercutting it. It reinforces the idea that original, human-made content still matters.

SAM THOMPSON & BEN HACKER

Co-Founders, Content Jungle

15:15 - 16:00

PR in the Age of AI: How to Become the Brand Humans Trust and AI Recommends

ALISON SHADRACK

Founder & CEO, Adia PR

Today, buyers don’t just use Google to search; they ask ChatGPT and other large language models (LLMs) who to trust, who to work with and which brands stand out.

These systems don’t rely on adverts or self-promotion; they source their information from credible, third parties such as respected press and media coverage, expert commentary in thought leadership articles and consistent brand authority.

In this dynamic and interactive masterclass, Alison Shadrack Brown, Founder of Adia PR, will show how strategic PR builds the credibility and reputation that journalists trust, customers act on and AI models reference when generating recommendations.

PR is evolving in the digital age of AI. Businesses that invest in authoritative PR are not only more visible in the press and online, they are more likely to appear in AI-led research, comparisons and recommendations.

LLMs trust press coverage as an authoritative source, so the more positive and consistent stream of news you have appearing in the press, the more LLMs will be able to build a profile of your business to share with your potential prospects.

Drawing on real client examples from Adia PR, Alison will show how effective PR builds a compounding digital footprint across high-trust publications – for both the business and the personal brand of the founders –shaping how people and AI perceive, talk about and recommend your brand.

This session blends traditional PR expertise with a practical understanding of how LLMs interpret credibility, enabling entrepreneurs to future-proof their visibility, reputation and growth.

BOOK SESSION

Please note, spaces are limited and available on a first come first serve basis – sign up to secure your spot!

16:00 - 16:30

SETTING THE STANDARD FOR TRUSTED UK B2B DATA

This session explores what trusted UK B2B data really means in practice and why it has become a critical part of modern business infrastructure. Rather than focusing on the risks of poor-quality data alone, the session sets a clearer benchmark for what good looks like, from verification and governance through to compliance and commercial outcomes.

Attendees will gain a practical understanding of how high-quality, verified data underpins

performance across sales, marketing and operations, and why it is essential for enabling technologies such as AI to function effectively. The session will examine how organisations can move from reactive data decisions towards a more structured, standards-led approach that scales with growth.

Please

16:30 - 17:00

PICKING TOOLS THAT WORK

CHRISTINA HAMILTON CHAIR CEO, ClearCourse

BILLY PRICE JOSH BARLING

Managing Director, Field Services

Good or bad – software impacts every aspect of our lives. Every day, we interact with countless digital tools – touching everything from what we eat to who we date, and how we stay connected at home and at work. When it comes to business – the dizzying number of tools we use can itself become an issue, with SMEs needing multiple different and often disconnected systems to function, from accounting to business management. One industry survey even stated that a quarter of employees felt ‘app overload’ made them less efficient. Perhaps what makes a tool ‘good’ or ‘bad’ – is simply whether the human using it gets the outcome the want.

Managing Director, Retail

We know that businesses get the best results when humans and technology are working with – and not against each other. Things happen with less friction, and your people have more time and energy for what really matters. So how can already-stretched SMEs get this right?

In honest and informal session, we’ll –share some stories of how it’s gone horribly wrong – before diagnosing, and maybe even identifying some practical ways for you and your people to get the most out of the tools you use to run and grow your business.