Networking Breakfast
An opportunity to enjoy some delicious breakfast food from Fig and the Wild and explore our Support Hub.
One Creative North: Stronger Together
Research suggests that, if the creative industries’ contribution to GVA in the north was to rise to half that of London and the South East, it could boost GVA by £10 billion by 2030. So how can we improve connectivity and collaboration across the north, boosting skills development, access to finance, R&D and innovation and arts, culture and heritage? Our panel metro mayors will outline current policy and look at future trends, growth, infrastructure, innovation and pan-northern collaboration. It’s a rare chance to hear strong Northern voices in one place, addressing our collective future.
Speakers:
A Rising Tide: Creativity, collaboration and your customers
Keynote speaker Mark Shayler’s unmissable start to the day blends creative thinking, sustainability, cultural heritage and innovation, weaving a sharp narrative on creativity and collaboration. He looks at how customers have changed, how belief systems shape our purchasing behaviour and how we’re never going to change the world if we’re sitting in a room on our own. You’ll come away with ideas, inspiration and brand new insights to help you understand your clients and customers, thrive and grow. You’re welcome!
Digital Synergies: Sharing creative skills across games, film, TV and beyond.
Our expert digital panel brings insights from across the North as we dive into the world of media, entertainment and video games, exploring the synergies between these industries and how they’re evolving in a digital-first and AI world. As sectors face new opportunities and challenges, we ask: how is collaboration fuelling opportunities and growth; what software skills are transferable across digital industries and how can we better recognise and share cross-sector opportunities? As technology and skills are increasingly shared, are you making sure you’re not closing off certain sectors? Digital skills call for an adaptable, flexible approach to projects, so our panel tackles how to add different options to your products and services, without changing your ethos. We’ll hear real-world experiences and practical insights to help you use your skills across a variety of industries. Digital innovation affects every one of us, every day – do NOT miss this.
Speakers:
The Next Generation: Future Work, Future Workers
The future of work hasn’t yet been written… So how do we align business needs with young peoples’ skills? How can employers accommodate young people arriving in the world of work? Who is helping SMEs take on young people and whose responsibility are the soft skills the next generation needs to navigate the workplace? Join us to think about how we develop the skills and aptitudes that drive success, and create opportunities for all across the region – and beyond. How can our education institutions collaborate with businesses to support future workers and what does this mean in reality for SMEs? How can we make sure skills reflect business needs in fast-changing sectors? This is your chance to listen and learn – and shape future direction; challenge the institutions and share what works. In 2024 this was our most popular panel – now it’s your chance to have your say!
Speakers:
Lunch
Interactive session: Community Digital
An interactive Q&A session discussing what collaboration within a community means.
Creative Placemaking: People, Places and Possibility
A vibrant conversation about placemaking, planning and purpose-driven communities. How do we create strong and resilient communities to drive growth, support business, local ecosystems and create opportunity? How can organisations best collaborate, cluster and thrive? How can placemaking develop communities and leave room for genuine creativity? How do you incorporate uniqueness and creativity into a place to help make it thrive and, most importantly, engage people? And who decides what a place should be? Our experts bring ideas, examples and cautionary tales… It’s essential listening – and the conversation to be a part of – for developers, architects, community leaders, policy makers and businesses ready to thrive in a like-minded cluster.
Speakers:
Panel Sponsor:
How Music Makes Cities Better
Jett Glozier specialises in cultural policy and the unique role it plays in the places we love. His work spans multi-use venues, co-working spaces, festivals and events, alongside night-time economic strategy and the visitor economy. Now Global Head of Infrastructure at Sound Diplomacy, Jett was integral to the creation of music and art venues including Oval Space and The Pickle Factory. He’s worked with Wembley Park, Croydon, Belfast, Manchester and Haringey, Bolton, Bath and Bradford and joins us at Bloom to consider the impact of cultural policy in Liverpool City Region – in the Baltic Triangle, North Docks and Birkenhead – and beyond… He talks to Future Yard co-founder and former music journalist Craig Pennington about the economic impact of culture, music tourism and the visitor economy, and how it can co-exist successfully and sustainably in our cities.
In Conversation: 
Networking and support hub
Headline Sponsor
Supporter
