Graham Ruddick, Sarah Vizard and guests discuss the state of play for business in the UK and look at the proposals and solutions to help turn more promising businesses into large companies

Simon Arora and his brothers bought the struggling discount retail chain, B&M, for £525,000 in 2004. Today, it is valued at more than £5bn and is part of the FTSE 100. In our first keynote, he will tell the story of how B&M went from an ailing medium-sized business in Blackpool to one of the biggest companies in the UK, what he learned along the way and his advice for leaders wanting to scale up.

Andrew Griffith MP, the shadow secretary of state for business and trade, interviewed by Hannah Guerin

Your people are the most important part of your business, so getting them to work well together is critical. In this fireside chat, leadership and mindset expert Catherine Baker talks to Brentford football club’s Ben Ryan about how to build a team that excels and why performance is more than the sum of its parts.

Tom Beahon is the founder and CEO of the sportswear brand Castore, which was recently valued at £1bn. In this interview, he'll talk about starting the company and his journey as an entrepreneur.

Gain expert insights from investors and business leaders on the best strategies for securing funding for your business. Navigate the ever-changing investment landscape, refine your negotiation tactics, and unlock the best terms to drive your organisation’s success.

The panel will explore key strategies mid-sized businesses can use to attract, retain, and develop skilled talent while scaling. The discussion will cover talent acquisition, employee engagement, leadership development, and adapting to workforce trends.

Panel by Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses UK

SMEs are vital to driving national economic growth. This panel will explore the solutions that leaders of high-growth businesses believe are key to enhancing the UK’s growth prospects. As the country’s engines of growth, it is crucial that they are given a seat at the table and a voice in the decisions that impact them.

Deliveroo's founder and CEO Will Shu, interviewed by Graham Ruddick

Master strategic marketing leadership for founders and CEOs. Learn to evaluate team performance, understand crucial growth metrics and align marketing investments with business objectives.

Master the art of building and nurturing high-performing leadership teams. Learn proven methods for assessment, cohesion and executive development.

Join our expert panel from top 10 global accounting and advisory firm Forvis Mazars as they take us through the importance of always having a view on the long-term end goal, even if you are not looking to exit.