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We had the pleasure of attending Elite Business Live 2025, and we thoroughly enjoyed the experience — from the inspirational keynote speakers to the engaging panel discussions, the event was packed with invaluable insights for business owners and professionals alike.

The event was brilliantly hosted by Oli Barrett OBE, a renowned presenter and entrepreneur, and Hannah Prevett, Deputy Editor of the Times Enterprise Network. Their energy set the tone for a dynamic and insightful programme.

Day 1 Highlights

The opening keynote came from Simon Squibb, the visionary behind HelpBnk. His talk centred on creating a generous workplace culture and promoting employee well-being — a message that really resonated with us. It was uplifting to hear how supporting community initiatives can boost team morale while also positively impacting business.

Simon was joined by other inspiring entrepreneurs including Alexander Wood (Alexandra Wood Bespoke), Amy Knight (Must Have Ideas), Chris Kemp (Ingenuity Group), Mike Greene (Best Wealth Network), and James Sinclair (Partyman Group), who shared strategies on achieving sustainable business growth.

Next up was Andrew Grill, AI expert and podcast host, who led a compelling session on how AI can be a game changer for small businesses. This was followed by a thought-provoking panel with Alison Wright from Microsoft, Cassie Gasson (Thrive), and Eric Schwartz (Tricon Infotech), who tackled the practical and ethical considerations of adopting AI in day-to-day operations.

One of our personal highlights was the keynote from Dr Alka Patel, founder of The Million Hour Club. Her data-driven approach to health and wellness served as a timely reminder of how vital it is to prioritise well-being in business. The subsequent panel on diversity and inclusion was equally impactful, with powerful contributions from Al Malhotra, Judith Germain, Kristjan Byfield, Rachel Morgan-Trimmer, and Alex Partridge (founder of UNILAD and LADbible).

The day continued with insights from Sam Smith, former CEO of finnCap Group, and a panel featuring successful founders like Andrea Reynolds (Swoop), Hatty Fawcett (Focused for Business), and Louise Doyle (needi.co.uk), discussing the unique challenges faced by female entrepreneurs and the importance of mentorship.

The final keynote of the day was the legendary Joseph Foster, co-founder of Reebok, who shared his fascinating entrepreneurial journey. His stories – including one about Michael Jordan and a well-placed flag – had the audience captivated.

Rounding off the day was an excellent session on global expansion with speakers like Alex Shephard (Universal Partners), Julianne Ponan MBE (Creative Nature), and Thomas Hal Robson-Kanu (The Turmeric Co.).

Day 2 Recap

The second day opened with a powerful keynote from Joseph Valente, winner of The Apprentice UK 2015, who shared how he scaled his one-man boiler installation business into one of the UK’s fastest-growing trades companies. His passion and hustle were truly motivating.

He later joined a panel with Chloe Clover (Wander), Mark Finlay (Moneypenny), and Nicola Cook (Company Shortcuts) to dive deeper into building client trust and driving commercial growth.

Tech innovation continued as Brian Horsburgh (Dell Technologies) and Aine Rogers (Cisco), among others, explored the opportunities AI presents for SMEs — a topic that’s increasingly relevant for us and our clients.

Another standout speaker was Shaa Wasmund, a serial entrepreneur and best-selling author, who spoke about building resilience as a business owner. Her panel discussion with Amy Hopper, Joanna Howes, and Niki Avraam offered practical advice on supporting hybrid workforces and maintaining high team morale.

Sustainability also took centre stage with insights from Chris Forbes (Cheeky Panda), Sakina Buoy (Somerset Toiletry Company), and others, who demonstrated how eco-conscious practices can be applied across all business sectors — including services like ours.

The closing session featured Johnny Paterson, co-founder of Dr.PAWPAW, who shared his remarkable journey of building a global business from just £20k. The final panel of the day, including Jade Buffong-Phillips (Mane Hook-Up) and Pavlo Phitidis (Aurik Business), gave real-world advice on expanding into international markets.

Looking Ahead to 2026

We left Elite Business Live 2025 feeling inspired, informed, and motivated to take fresh ideas back to Zenith PA. The diversity of speakers and depth of knowledge shared across both days made it an unmissable event.