Hosts
Daniel Peters
Founder & Managing Director, Minority Report Ltd
Marverine Cole
Journalist / St Pancras room Host, ITV / Good Morning Britain
Daniel Peters
Founder & Managing Director, Minority Report Ltd
The organisation connects with a broad reach of clients including HUGO BOSS, ASOS, Gymshark and Tapestry, working with each team to deliver DE&I strategies which are unique to their business needs and objectives around the topic.
His business is also anchored by their work in the fashion industry and creative sector, as the (Fashion) Minority Report, which is a career and learning development resource to support underrepresented talent in the field.
Peters, a Peckham native, is a board trustee for the charity Relate, and also sits as an industry advisor for the Fashion Retail Academy and Manchester Fashion Institute, helping to bring about systemic change relating to inclusion and diversity in higher education. He previously sat on the Diversity and Inclusion Steering Committee at the British Fashion Council, which led to the collaborative launch of the British fashion industry DEI Census report in 2024 alongside the BFC and The Outsiders Perspective.
In 2023, Daniel was named as a Champion of Change by Vogue Business as part of their 100 global Innovators list for his work shaking up fashion, beauty and luxury.
Marverine Cole
Journalist / St Pancras room Host, ITV / Good Morning Britain
Speakers
Lisa Nandy MP
Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport
Robert Peston
Political Editor, ITV & Co-Host, The Rest Is Money
Vanessa Spence
Executive Vice President, Creative, ASOS
Stephen Welton CBE
Chair, British Business Bank
Caroline Norbury OBE
CEO, Creative UK
Hazel Savage
Founder, Investor & Entrepreneur
Sir Peter Bazalgette
Co-Chair of Creative Industries Council
Luke Daley
Creative Engineer, Orbital FX
Tom Bunten
Founder / CEO, Grid finder
Nick Button-Brown
Chair, Outright Games
Angela Ferreira
Executive Producer, Banijay UK
Martha Lane Fox
Founder
Ali Kazmi
Founder/CEO, AI Simulator
Karen Blackett
Non Executive Director & Chancellor, Creative UK, Diageo, BEO & University of Portsmouth
Tim McSweeney
Director, Interstate 3x
Sharon Jandu OBE
Director, NPH Ethnic Minority Business & Policy Forum / Yorkshire Asian Business Association
Samantha McShane
Artistic Director, King's place
Tom Adeyoola
Entrepreneur
Christopher Smith
Executive Chair, Arts and Humanities Research Council
Shanaz Gulzar
Creative Director, Bradford 2025
Josh Siepel
Associate Professor, University of Sussex Business School, Creative Industries Policy and Evidence Centre
Tom Fiddian
Head of AI and Data Economy Programmes, Innovate UK
Karin Svanborg-Sjövall
Swedish Vice Minister for Culture, Ministry of Culture, Sweden
Dame Rosemary Squire
Joint CEO, Trafalgar Entertainment
Martin Prendergast
Public affairs and partnerships consultant, Martin Prendergast Communications (MPC)
Sarah Gregory
Head of Equality, Diversity & Inclusion, Creative UK
Rupert Daniels
Director Creative, Consumer, Sport and Education, Department for Business and Trade
Mark Adamson
Principal Manager - Sectoral Growth & Delivery, North East Combined Authority
Roderick Beer
Managing Director, UK Business Angels Association
Lisa Nandy MP
Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport
Robert Peston
Political Editor, ITV & Co-Host, The Rest Is Money
Robert Peston is ITV’s Political Editor and host of their flagship politics and current affairs show, Peston. He covers the latest happenings in Westminster and interviews important players on the national and international political scenes. In addition to this, he co-hosts, the podcast The Rest Is Money with Steph McGovern where they explore what we need to know about the issues that affect us in our everyday lives, decode business jargon, and revisit some of the biggest financial events of the last half century.
Prior to his high-profile move to ITV Robert was the BBC’s Economics Editor, revealing the stories behind the statistics and explaining the implications of domestic, European, and global economic shifts. Before that, as Business Editor, he broadcast and published a series of exclusive and influential stories about the global financial
situation. He revealed the crises at Northern Rock and RBS, the emergency rescue of HBOS, and the tumult around the credit crunch, bailouts, and austerity.
Before joining the BBC, Robert was City and Assistant Editor of the Sunday Telegraph, in charge of the business and money sections, and the FT's Financial Editor. At the FT, he was a member of the editorial board and earlier he served as its Political Editor, Banking Editor, and founder of the investigation’s unit.
Away from the cameras Robert has also won plaudits for his online journalism. He is the author of critically acclaimed books including How Do We Fix This Mess? and Who Runs Britain?. Both examine the causes and longterm implications of the 2008 financial crisis. Whilst WTF?, described by the Financial Times as “mandatory
reading”, takes a broader look at the world, what’s gone wrong, and proposes possible solutions across politics, society and business. In Brown's Britain Robert explained for the first time the real nature of the relationship between Blair and Brown. His novel The Whistleblower was described by the Daily Mail as “cracking” and “Gripping”
by Radio Times.
Amongst over thirty journalism awards Robert has to his name, he has won the Royal Television Society's Journalist of the Year, Specialist Journalist of the Year, and Scoop of the Year (twice), the Wincott Prize for financial journalism, and the Broadcasting Press Guild's award for Best Performer in a non-acting role.
Robert has written and presented several documentaries and factual series, notably four films about China's boom and possible bust, two on the EU referendum, three films on the financial crisis, and the popular series Robert Peston Goes Shopping. Away from journalism Robert is also the founder of the education charity Speakers for
Schools, and the Vice President of Hospice UK.
Vanessa Spence
Executive Vice President, Creative, ASOS
Vanessa Spence joined ASOS in 2007 after starting her career 9 years prior working in design at Arcadia and briefly at Pepe Jeans.
Starting with a team of two, Vanessa was influential in shaping the ASOS brand and now has a team of over 100. Vanessa was made Womenswear Design Director in 2015 and promoted to Design Director of both Womenswear and Menswear in 2018 to develop a unified look and feel to the ASOS ranges, trends and collaborations.
Now in her current role as Executive Vice President (Creative), Vanessa oversees all creative across ASOS.com, product, studios and content. Vanessa also sits on the Board of Governors for the Fashion Retail Academy and CreativeUK while also joining the Fashion Minority Alliance in 2020 as one of their resident experts in Fashion Retail.
Stephen Welton CBE
Chair, British Business Bank
Stephen has extensive experience as an investor in private capital markets around the world. He was the founder CEO of the Business Growth Fund plc (BGF) from 2011 to 2020, then Executive Chair between 2020 and 2022, and later Non-Executive Chair until July 2023.
In 2013, Stephen was appointed as an advisor to the UK Government regarding the establishment of the British Business Bank and, in 2017, served as a member of the Industry Panel advising HM Treasury on the Patient Capital Review. He was also a member of the Prime Minister’s 2021 Business Council and member of the Innovate Council from 2018-2021.
Prior to BGF, he was one of the founding partners of global private equity firm CCMP Capital (formerly JP Morgan Partners) and, before that, managing director of Barclays Private Equity and Henderson Ventures, which he also co-founded.
Stephen was awarded a CBE in June 2023 for services to Small Businesses and Entrepreneurship.
Caroline Norbury OBE
CEO, Creative UK
Hazel Savage
Founder, Investor & Entrepreneur
Hazel travels globally speaking at conferences and talking to catalogue owners about the value of artificial intelligence integration and digital transformation in the music industry. As a female founder in the heavily male-dominated industries of music and tech, Hazel seeks to offer insights with interesting and humorous anecdotes, as well as easy-to-follow explanations and use cases of artificial intelligence technology.
Sir Peter Bazalgette
Co-Chair of Creative Industries Council
Luke Daley
Creative Engineer, Orbital FX
With strong ties to education, Orbital FX is dedicated to inspiring the next generation of creatives. Through collaborations with schools, colleges, and universities, the team shares industry expertise and provides hands-on learning opportunities, empowering students to explore the intersection of art, technology, and storytelling.
Utilizing cutting-edge tools such as 3D printing, CNC machining, and laser cutting, as well as a professional spray booth, the team thrives on delivering tailored solutions that captivate and engage. From intricate props to large-scale installations, Orbital FX is committed to excellence and creativity at every stage of the process.
By blending a passion for innovation with a focus on inspiring future talent, Orbital FX is not only shaping extraordinary projects but also contributing to the growth and vibrancy of the creative industry across the UK.
Tom Bunten
Founder / CEO, Grid finder
After 10 years serving as an officer in the Royal Navy, Tom had an idea for a business: Grid Finder. With no business experience, contacts or specialist knowledge, he decided to dive into as many local start up support organisations and networks as possible to give himself a fighting chance.
He completed the Ignite Pre-Accelerator and Accelerator over 6 months; read dozens of start up books; listened to podcasts; watched YouTube videos; went to networking events; met his co-founder & CTO and raised a pre-seed (£200k) round in 2022.
In late 2022 they opened a £1.5m Seed round and closed £420k in SAFE Notes within a few weeks from Creative UK and a US-based family office. The team, concept and opportunity grew throughout 2023 until ultimately they were acquired by a US strategic investor in December 2023. Tom continues to be CEO of Grid Finder whilst making angel investments in local tech start ups and taking on small advisory roles in projects that excite him.
Nick Button-Brown
Chair, Outright Games
He also founded The Games Angels, a collective of industry veterans investing in and supporting early-stage gaming companies, as well as being named 2024 Angel of the year by UKBAA, sits on the Board at UKIE (the games industry representative body) and is a trustee at OKRE, linking research and entertainment.
Angela Ferreira
Executive Producer, Banijay UK
Her commissions at Douglas Road Productions include, ‘Black Classical Music, The Forgotten History’, ‘Una Marson: Our Lost Caribbean Voice’, ‘Judi Love: Black Female and Invisible and ‘Lenny Henry’s Caribbean Britain’. Her drama credits include, ‘Soon Gone: A Windrush Chronicle’, 'My Name is Leon’ and ‘Three Little Birds’.
Martha Lane Fox
Founder
Ali Kazmi
Founder/CEO, AI Simulator
Karen Blackett
Non Executive Director & Chancellor, Creative UK, Diageo, BEO & University of Portsmouth
Tim McSweeney
Director, Interstate 3x
Drawing on twenty years of experience in equity investment and innovation strategy, Tim specialises in translating cutting-edge technologies into tangible business opportunities.
Sharon Jandu OBE
Director, NPH Ethnic Minority Business & Policy Forum / Yorkshire Asian Business Association
Sharon Jandu OBE is the Director of the NPH Ethnic Minority Business & Policy Forum, Founder of the Yorkshire Asian Business Association, and Chair of Unity Enterprise. She sits on the board of the Unity Housing Association and is a Director for the Federation of Small Business, Board Member Association of International Accountants, Chair of the International Business Advisory Group Leeds University Business School, Advisory Board Member BREE Bradford-Renduchintala Enterprise Ecosystem University of Bradford.
She was listed in the New Year Honours list 2023 receiving an Order of the British Empire for her contributions to international trade.
Samantha McShane
Artistic Director, King's place
At the age of 25, Sam took up her first artistic position working with the Royal Scottish National Orchestra then on to Manchester Camerata, the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland and is currently Artistic Director of Kings Place, London.
From touring with orchestras internationally to developing sector leading talent development schemes, Sam is passionate about finding new and innovative ways to ensure our industry remains relevant to audiences whilst ensuring equality across this work.
Tom Adeyoola
Entrepreneur
Christopher Smith
Executive Chair, Arts and Humanities Research Council
Shanaz Gulzar
Creative Director, Bradford 2025
Josh Siepel
Associate Professor, University of Sussex Business School, Creative Industries Policy and Evidence Centre
Tom Fiddian
Head of AI and Data Economy Programmes, Innovate UK
Karin Svanborg-Sjövall
Swedish Vice Minister for Culture, Ministry of Culture, Sweden
Before joining the government, she served as President for Timbro, the largest liberal think tank in Scandinavia, and has been active as a writer and as journalist for numerous newspapers.
Dame Rosemary Squire
Joint CEO, Trafalgar Entertainment
Joint CEO and Executive Chair - Trafalgar Entertainment
Dame Rosemary Squire is one of the most prominent women in British theatre of the modern era. She is currently Co-founder, Joint CEO and Executive Chair of global live entertainment business Trafalgar Entertainment. Prior to Trafalgar Entertainment, Rosemary and her husband/business partner, Sir Howard Panter, built from scratch and ran for its first 25 years, the world’s largest live theatre business - the Ambassador Theatre Group.
Rosemary is the only woman to have won the EY UK Entrepreneur of the Year Award. She was a National Member of the Arts Council England Board, Chair of the Board for Sonia Friedman Productions, Joint Chair of The Hall for Cornwall in Truro, and Chair of Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts. She is currently a Trustee of the Trafalgar Entertainment Trust. As President of the Society of London Theatre, Rosemary became the second only female President in the organisation’s history. She won the prestigious CBI Real Business First Women Award for Tourism & Leisure and was awarded an OBE for Services to Theatre.
Respected advocates for cultural industries in the UK and internationally, Rosemary and Howard topped The Stage 100 for seven consecutive record-breaking years. In 2018, she was named Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire in The Queen’s New Year Honours list for Services to Theatre and Philanthropy. In 2024, Rosemary and Howard were awarded the Freedom of the City of London in recognition of their contribution to theatre and the cultural life of London.
Martin Prendergast
Public affairs and partnerships consultant, Martin Prendergast Communications (MPC)
Sarah Gregory
Head of Equality, Diversity & Inclusion, Creative UK
#Create Diversity
Rupert Daniels
Director Creative, Consumer, Sport and Education, Department for Business and Trade
Mark Adamson
Principal Manager - Sectoral Growth & Delivery, North East Combined Authority
Mark joined the North East Combined Authority in October 2023, having previously been Project Director for five years for the cross-university innovation and business support project Creative Fuse North East. A key part of his current role includes leading on the strategic development and delivery of the Culture, Creative, Tourism and Sport portfolio for the Combined Authority, working with partners and stakeholders to develop the North East as an exemplar model for cultural place making, cementing its appeal as a place to visit, live, and work. A key part of this is supporting the growth, scale and sustainability of the North East's fantastic creative industries. In addition, Mark’s team also includes responsibility for supporting wider programme delivery including sport, the visitor economy, business support, innovation, and access to finance.
Roderick Beer
Managing Director, UK Business Angels Association
He is now the Managing Director of the UK Business Angels Association, the trade body for angel and early-stage investing, representing 220 organisations including Angel Groups, Investment Funds and Family Offices that collectively deploy over £2bn p.a. in innovative, high-growth businesses.
10:30 | Arrivals
10:30 - 11:00 | welcome & Briefing from Stephen Welton CBE, Chair of British Business Bank
11:00 - 16:30 | Live Pitching
10:00 - 19:00 | Expo Opens
11:30 - 11:40 | Welcome from Host
11:40 - 11:55 | Access to Finance Presentation
Exclusive presentation of findings from the new landmark Access to Finance report: based on a research project conceived and initiated by Creative UK, and undertaken in collaborative partnership with the Creative Industries Policy & Evidence Centre (Creative PEC). With speakers Caroline Norbury OBE (Creative UK), Josh Siepel (Creative Industries Policy and Evidence Centre) and Sarah Gregory (Creative UK).
11:55 - 12:00 | Placemaking & Welcome presented by Kings Place -
Placemaking & Welcome presented by Kings Place's Artistic Director Sam McShane
12:00 - 13:00 | Prioritising Place: How public investment can leverage private finance in every corner of the UK
The UK Government have made it clear: national inclusive growth is their priority. This panel will explore how growth can be achieved through targeted investment across the UK, using the Create Growth Programme (CGP) and the North East Culture and Creative Investment Programme (CCIP) as two clear examples of success. With host Sir Peter Bazalgette (co-chair of the Creative Industries Council) and panel members including Ali Kazmi (Founder/CEO, AI Simulator), Mark Adamson from the North East Combined Authority, and Professor Christopher Smith from AHRC, and Shanaz Gulzar, Creative Director, Bradford 2025. This session will also reflect on the value of creative placemaking, where ROI is both economic and social.
Includes a presentation from Luke Daley of Orbital FX, a costume and prop design company that has completed the North East investment readiness Create Growth Programme and secured regional investment from the Culture and Creative Investment Programme run by Creative UK.
Sponsored by
![800x400-colour_Olympia[48235]](https://investment.wearecreative.uk/hs-fs/hubfs/800x400-colour_Olympia%5B48235%5D.png?width=174&height=87&name=800x400-colour_Olympia%5B48235%5D.png)
12:00 - 13:45 | Lunch will be available in the Expo areas
14:00 - 14:45 | Keynote from Robert Peston
14:45 - 15:30 | Imagination Drives Innovation: how to harness the power of creativity
The Cultural and Creative Industries contribute £125bn to the economy every year. But the value of creativity goes far beyond GVA – and when investors and creatives join forces, the results can be astonishing. Hosted by Tom Adeyoola, and featuring Robert Peston, Political Editor, ITV, and Co-host, The Rest is Money, Baroness Martha Lane Fox, Founder, Stephen Welton, CBE, Non-executive Chair, British Business Bank, and Caroline Norbury OBE, Chief Executive of Creative UK.
This session follows on from Robert Peston’s keynote, with the panel reflecting on the incredible opportunities within our world-class creative industries, and how investing in creativity can drive real economic returns. How can investors be better supported to identify amazing talent and how do we help creative entrepreneurs find the right type of investment for their businesses?
15:35 - 16:15 | Passion & Pragmatism: The foundations of successful creative businesses
Creative businesses are built on vision – but how is that vision sustained and scaled over time, and what does a great creative business plan look like? This session offers a fascinating insight into how pragmatism and passion can work together, exploring the creative / producer partnerships which are often at the heart of global success. Hear from successful founders and drivers in in the worlds of TV & screen, fashion, games, advertising and marketing and other sub-sectors within the Creative Industries.
Hosted by Karen Blackett, Non Executive Director & Chancellor, Creative UK, Diageo, BEO & University Of Portsmouth. And panellists will include Vanessa Spence, Senior Creative Director at ASOS.com; Nick Button-Brown, Chair of Outright Games; Angela Ferriera, Executive Producer at Banijay UK, and Dame Rosemary Squires, theatre owner, entrepreneur co-founder of the Ambassador Theatre Group.
16:20 - 16:30 | Keynote from Lisa Nandy MP (Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport)
16:30 - 17:00 | Demystifying Creative Business Models
This panel will delve into the vital conversation around viable business models for cultural and creative businesses. Hosted by Tim McSweeney, Director of Interstate 3x, the panellists include entrepreneur, Hazel Savage and public affairs and partnerships specialist, Martin Prendergast, with more to be confirmed.
16:30 - 17:00 | International investment: How the UK’s creative sector stacks up
The UK’s cultural and creative industries are world-renowned. Every year, the sector exports £46bn of goods and services, representing 14% of all UK services exports. But what do international investors find attractive about the UKs creative businesses, and what are the challenges? In this session hosted by Rupert Daniels (Director Creative, Consumer, Sport and Education, Department for Business and Trade), a panel that includes Karin Svanborg-Sjövall (Swedish Vice Minister for Culture, Ministry of Culture, Sweden), Sharon Jandu OBE (Founder of the Yorkshire Asian Business Association) and Tom Bunten (Grid Finder) discuss the opportunities and risks around backing UK creativity.
17:00 - 17:10 | Host Closing Comments & Wrap-Up
17:10 - 19:10 | Networking, Expo & Live Performance
