For support For protection For business
Wednesday 4 November York
SUPERNetworking Connect, Learn, Future-Proof Your Business In partnership with
Agenda Event Opening 9:30
Breakfast refreshments, exhibition viewing and networking
10:30
SUPERNetworking Sprint A facilitated fast-paced networking round to help you connect with more people.
Panel 1: Future-Proofing Now 11:15
Quick Wins That Make a Big Impact with Q&A
12:00
Lunch, networking and exhibitor viewing
Panel 2: The 2027 Horizon 13:30
Planning for What’s Next with Q&A
14:15
Networking, Exhibitor viewing
15:30
Close
Connect, Learn, Future-Proof Your Business
2
Visit our Exhibitors 471 Print and Promotions
www.471printandpromotions.co.uk
Great Ideas Fund
yorknorthyorks-ca.gov.uk/project/great-ideas
Build your AI team
buildmyaiteam.com
Clarity
getclarity.win
Crombie Wilkinson
www.crombiewilkinson.co.uk
Doodle HR
doodlehr.co.uk
Enterprise Made Simple
enterprisemadesimple.co.uk
Fab Training
www.fabtraining.net
Federation of Small Businesses & FSB Insurance
www.fsb.org.uk
Grow Your Life Health
www.growyourlife.health
Ian Walker & Co
www.ianwalkerandco.co.uk
KD Recruitment
kdrecruitment.co.uk
Lillywhite Consulting
lillywhiteconsultancy.co.uk
Lundia
www.lundia.co.uk
Nomada Digital
www.nomadadigital.co.uk
Pro Development
pro-development.co.uk
TechSend
www.techscend.uk
Umi
www.weareumi.co.uk
YNY Council / & Growth Hub
ynygrowthhub.com
York St John University
www.yorksj.ac.uk/business-support
Connect, Learn, Future-Proof Your Business
3
About our panellists Panel 1: Future-Proofing Now: Quick Wins That Make a Big Impact with Q&A Michelle Mook Pro-Development (UK) Limited Your Panel 1 host is Michelle Mook, Founder and Managing Director of Pro-Development (UK) Limited, a Yorkshire-based consultancy helping organisations strengthen employee engagement, retention and people development. With over 30 years’ experience, Michelle is an award-winning people development specialist, speaker and coach, helping businesses build stronger leaders, teams and workplace cultures.
Becky Robinson Wrapped Becky Robinson is CEO and Co-owner of Wrapped, an award-winning brand and digital marketing agency specialising in highly regulated sectors. With over 20 years’ marketing experience, Becky combines creative thinking with a practical understanding of compliance and reputation. Known for her straightforward, jargon-free approach, Becky focuses on turning digital activity into measurable business growth, sharing practical, actionable advice that businesses can implement immediately.
Paul Lillywhite Lillywhite Consultancy Paul is a Behavioural Specialist, Performance Coach and founder of Lillywhite Consultancy, helping SME leaders and teams achieve better performance through greater self-awareness and effective behaviour. With over 40 years’ business experience, including 25 years applying psychometric assessments, Paul specialises in DISC and TEIQue (Emotional Intelligence). His philosophy is simple: better understanding of ourselves leads to better understanding of others, and ultimately better performance.
Connect, Learn, Future-Proof Your Business
4
About our panellists Richard Wrightson Legal Adviser Richard Wrightson is a legal adviser specialising in Company and Commercial matters and has experience in dealing with the legal demands and requirements of sole traders, partnerships, limited liability partnerships and limited companies. With a decade of experience in the legal profession, Richard has worked for global, national and regional businesses as well as individual business owners to meet a wide range of both simple and complex legal needs.
Alastair Stewart Business Doctors Yorkshire Alastair Stewart is the founder of Business Doctors Yorkshire. He works with owners across the county who know something in their business isn’t quite right and helps them put it right - from securing a company’s survival to building a clear plan for the years ahead. Before that, he spent 40 years in senior sales and commercial roles with Seagate, Dell, ShopperTrak and others. He built teams and partner networks in more than 15 countries and ran a region worth $1 billion in revenue. He has watched businesses grow, stall and turnaround from the inside, so he knows what works and what doesn’t.
Connect, Learn, Future-Proof Your Business
5
About our panellists Panel 2 : The 2027 Horizon: Planning for What’s Next Mark Bates York and North Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority Your panel 2 host is Mark Bates, Manufacturing Adviser, York and North Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority.. With a natural curiosity for how things are made, Mark brings extensive experience across manufacturing, professional and financial services, technology and business support to his role as Manufacturing Sector Development Manager. A commercially minded communicator and natural connector, Mark brings enthusiasm and drive to helping businesses achieve the best results. Known for his ability to build strong relationships, he is often described as the bridge between a company and the support, expertise and opportunities it needs to develop and grow.
Ian Walker Ian Walker and Co. Ian Walker is the Managing Director at Ian Walker and Co. An ACCA member since 1995 and Fellow since 2000, Ian also joined ICAEW in 2007 and became a Fellow in 2018. Born and educated in York, he began his career straight from sixth form and progressed in local practice from junior accounts clerk to audit and accounts senior, manager and partner. Ian advises owner-managed companies, LLPs, partnerships and sole traders across a wide range of sectors. He provides advice, reporting and taxation services throughout the business lifecycle, from start-up and growth to succession and exit. He also leads on business acquisitions and disposals.
Simon Cowley YorWealth Simon Cowley is Director and Financial Planner at YorWealth. With over 15 years’ experience, he helps clients review their financial arrangements, plan for retirement and reduce their tax burden, providing unbiased advice tailored to their goals. He makes complex financial matters clear through straightforward conversations and creates bespoke plans that adapt as clients’ needs and aspirations change. Simon understands that financial advice is built on trust and supports clients in turning family and personal ambitions into achievable goals.
Connect, Learn, Future-Proof Your Business
6
About our panellists Emma Smailes (MIED) Federation of Small Businesses Emma Smailes (MIED) is Head of Stakeholder and Business Engagement (North & Midlands) at the Federation of Small Businesses. She leads FSB’s regional business and stakeholder managers across the North and Midlands, working closely with FSB volunteers and supporting engagement with small businesses, policymakers and public, private and education partners. Emma plays a key role in influencing on behalf of small firms and acts as a vital link between the regional team, volunteers, FSB’s headquarters and its Westminster colleagues. She ensures regional intelligence, business experiences and emerging issues are fed directly into the policy team, ensuring the voice and experiences of northern businesses help shape FSB’s national priorities and its engagement with ministers and decision-makers. Emma is also a passionate advocate for social justice, women in enterprise and women in leadership, and when she’s not supporting small businesses she is flying the flag as a trustee for Brass Band England.
Kelly Dunn KD Recruitment Kelly Dunn is the Founder and Managing Director of KD Recruitment, supporting businesses across North and East Yorkshire with their recruitment and workforce needs. With almost 20 years’ experience in recruitment, Kelly works closely with business leaders on recruitment, retention, skills shortages and future workforce planning. Kelly is a member of the Recruitment & Employment Confederation’s Advisory Council and sits on several regional boards, giving her both a local and national perspective on the labour market. In 2025, Kelly was named Business Leader of the Year at the REC Awards, recognising her contribution to the recruitment industry and wider business community.
Dr Andrew Fairley York St John University Dr Andrew Fairley is a Lecturer in Business Management at York St John University, specialising in entrepreneurship, operations management, and the organisational implications of emerging tech. He leads teaching on AI and the Futures of Work, exploring the practical opportunities, limitations and risks of artificial intelligence with students, educators and businesses. Andrew’s research examines small businesses, including high-technology entrepreneurship, innovation and regulation. He previously worked with the FSB and Newcastle University on a major study of UK SMEs’ experiences of regulation during the COVID-19 crisis. His current focus is the business of AI, including adoption, governance and identifying where new technologies create genuine value. He takes a critical, grounded perspective on what is practical and achievable for smaller businesses. Connect, Learn, Future-Proof Your Business
7
For support For protection For business
Frank Jay Chilli Shop Ltd
Protecting you and your business At the Federation of Small Businesses, we’ve supported small business owners like Frank to start, run and grow amazing businesses since 1974. •
Free local and national networking events
•
Legal support and tax protection
•
24/7 HR advice
•
Built-in legal expenses insurance
•
Exclusive discounts for members
•
Access to legal documents and templates
Join today Start your membership with us Visit fsb.org.uk/join for more information