Focus Dinner with Lee Hartley

From start-up to market leader with £200m in annual revenues, Lee Hartley has built Fairstone Group into one of the UK’s most dynamic financial services businesses. Since founding the company in 2008, he’s steered it through ambitious growth, multiple investment rounds, and a unique acquisition strategy, all while keeping innovation and client focus at the heart of everything he does.

Before Fairstone, Lee was already making waves in e-commerce and software, delivering solutions for big names like Zurich, AXA, Abbey and London & European Insurance, as well as countless smaller banks and building societies. His knack for spotting opportunity, building scalable strategies and turning vision into results set the stage for the business success that followed.

In 2025, Lee was crowned Entrepreneur of the Year at our Entrepreneurial Awards, a well-deserved recognition for a leader who knows how to take risks, make bold decisions, and grow businesses that can stand the test of all market conditions.

Join us for a special dinner featuring a fireside chat between Lee Hartley and his close friend John Duns, Director and Co-owner at North East Times. Together, they’ll explore the story behind Fairstone including the challenges, the breakthroughs and lessons learned along the way, as well as his plan to realise a £1billion+ valuation for the company in the coming years. Discover how Lee took concept into reality, built a national powerhouse managing over £20billion of client funds, and what it really takes to lead with vision, determination and impact.

Spaces are limited. This is your chance to learn from one of the North East’s most forward-thinking, inspiring and unstoppable entrepreneurs in an evening you won’t want to miss.

The Small Print
This event is exclusively for entrepreneurial members of the Forum and costs £90 +VAT for a three-course meal, payable in advance.

By registering to attend this dinner you agree that your place is non-transferrable. We are unable to reimburse this cost if cancellations are received after 12noon on Wednesday 18th February.