Together We Can Take on the World

Brain, body, brawn… and blocked drains. Every successful business needs strong leadership and whether you’re the inventor of a household name board game or an innovator in the world of boilers and u-bends, this year’s spring conference aims to lift the lid on what makes a successful leader.

A highlight of the Forum calendar, demand for delegate places sees us take our annual Together We Can Take on the World conference to a new and iconic venue - The Sage Gateshead.

This inspirational building symbolises the concept of “anything is possible” and one of our most diverse speaker line-ups in recent years will prove that, with ambitious leadership, the sky really is the limit.

Coming exactly a week after the General Election, we can expect plenty of laughs at politicians’ expense from our host BBC Radio Newcastle presenter Alfie Joey, who is back by popular demand to introduce our superb speakers:

Floyd Woodrow is a decorated former Parachute Regiment and SAS soldier and ex-head of the Counter Terrorist Unit where he ran a nationally recognised training programme. He went on to be a director in the oil and gas and technology sectors before establishing security organisation Britam Defence Ltd and Chrysalis Worldwide, which supports the development of elite teams and individuals as well as offering practical and commercial value in strategic planning and execution.

If Floyd is our advocate of authentic leadership, then former Microsoft executive Richard Tait is our disruptive leader. Best known as the co-developer of the worldwide success story Cranium, his is a brain that’s full of ideas. After he sold the Cranium Company to Hasbro in 2008 for $77m, he went from family board game to football, creating Golazo, a ‘natural sports fuel’ for the soccer-mad.

Jamie Combs founded Natural Balance Foods ten years ago with a mission to offer something more exciting and delicious to the wholefood market. The company’s Nǎkd range of cereal bars and snacks is sold in supermarkets across the UK and the world, while its TREK bars are packed with protein for more outdoorsy, adventurous types. A leader of conviction, Jamie previously worked in marketing for Baskin Robbins ice cream and as a business turnaround consultant.

After completing a four-year apprenticeship in plumbing, visionary leader Charlie Mullins started Pimlico Plumbers in the basement of an estate agent in 1979 with just a second-hand van and a bag of tools. Determined to remove the stigma associated with the plumbing industry, 34 years later Pimlico, now part of the Pimlico Group plc, is London's largest independent plumbing and service company with a workforce of around 200, 160 vehicles and turnover in excess of £18 million from a 24 hour, 365 days a year operation.

It’s the one date in the north east business calendar that’s not to be missed!

This event is charged at £99 + VAT for entrepreneurial members and their guests. Please be aware that cancellations received within 72 hours of the event will be charged in full.

*Additional speakers will be added to the line-up