Sponsors here today

Feel free to network with them.

Initium Corporate Finance

Initium Corporate Finance are your employee-owned ‘Total Value’ specialist. They partner with ambitious privately owned businesses like yours – on growth, sale, exit and next-stage strategies.  They will be here today to answer any of your queries you may have.

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Mark Bentley – Head of Communications – Initium

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Hana Glanville – Business Development and Partnerships Manager and Co-Owner – Initium

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At Initium they’re passionate about helping ambitious entrepreneurs define, shape and build the value in their companies. If you’ve ever wondered what characteristics will really drive the value in your company when the time comes to exit, then please download their free guide What makes a business an attractive acquisition target? with their compliments.

What makes a business an attractive acquisition target

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Freeman Clarke

Freeman Clarke is the largest and most experienced Team of IT leaders. Their 100+ CIOs, CTOs and CISOs work on a fractional & flexible basis which means you can access a top class IT expert at the fraction of a cost of a full timer. Their people help businesses leverage IT to drive growth.

They typically work with clients in the following areas: IT strategy, bespoke software development, systems and digital initiatives, data and reporting, cyber security, and team development and mentoring.

For a no-strings conversation and to find out how they can support your growth plans please get in touch contact@freemanclarke.co.uk or 0203 020 1864

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Sally Rainbow-Ockwell – Director – Thames Valley & South West – Freeman Clarke

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Nigel Moulton – Fractional CTO – Freeman Clarke

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People Puzzles

People Puzzles is the UK’s leading provider of fractional People Directors. We help ambitious businesses overcome barriers by taking a commercial and strategic approach to people planning to achieve bottom-line growth and to accelerate business outcomes. You benefit from affordable, flexible access to the very top level of people expertise, with our UK-wide team of 90+ People Directors working alongside your senior leadership team in as little as a day a week with no long-term tie-ins or binding contracts. Whatever your business goals or current challenges, we have the experience and proven approaches to support your ambitions and deliver commercial value from day one.

For a free, 30 minute consultation with your local Regional Director, please email hello@peoplepuzzles.co.uk or call us on 0345 646 5201

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Tim Ponsford – Regional Director at People Puzzles Ltd

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Alex Kinchin-Smith – Managing Director at People Puzzles Ltd

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Northstar

Northstar is an award-winning creative marketing agency specialising in B2B brand building and customer engagement. Formed in 2000, the business works with a wide range of national and international clients, across different market sectors.

Based on a results based methodology, Northstar plans marketing/brand strategies and incisive multi channel campaigns, involving the most effective combination of digital and traditional media channels.

All our work starts with gaining an in depth understanding of our clients’ business and commercial objectives.

For MD2MD members, we are happy to provide speculative planning and creative recommendations if required.

Please contact Emma  emma@wearenorthstar.co.uk or Glyn  glyn@wearenorthstar.co.uk in the first instance. Or find the for a chat!

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Emma Russell – Managing Director – Northstar Marketing

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Glyn LLoyd – Owner- Northstar Marketing

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uptakeAI

We’re passionate about bridging the gap between humans and the power of Generative AI technology. Our mission is to support CEOs, Executive and People Teams in preparing their organisations for responsible and effective AI adoption, equipping them with the vital skills needed for the future of work.

Our face-to-face AI Exploration Workshops and online live AI Immersion Programmes guide clients through a social learning journey, building AI literacy and fluency. These programmes cover responsible use, ethical guidelines, data security protocols, and real-world applications that enhance performance and operational efficiency.

Our expertise in organisational psychology is instrumental in facilitating a smooth transition and adoption of AI into your workplace culture. We prioritise readiness, strategic alignment, and the development of essential people skills.

If you’re feeling anxious about AI or unsure where to start, we can help you get ahead, leverage incredible gains, and better support your people and business.

Do come and say hi at LeaderFest or get in touch: lucy@uptakeAI.co.uk

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Lucy Pitt – Co-Founder -uptakeAI

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OurPulse

At OurPulse, we understand the profound impact that mental health and well-being have on individuals and communities. Having personally experienced the challenges of poor mental health and suicide among friends, family, and colleagues, we are deeply committed to making a difference.

Our mission is to provide independent, trusted cutting-edge healthcare and technology solutions that not only meet the highest standards of quality and compliance but also address the critical need for mental health support and interventions.

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Dave Swann – COO – Our Pulse

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Karl Wood – CEO – Our Pulse

APM

We’re APM: Association for Project Management. We’re the only chartered membership organisation representing the project profession in the world. We set the standards for the profession and raise its profile. We’re a registered charity, delivering learning opportunities and developing qualifications, conducting research, and providing resources. We run events, share best practice and give the project management community – individuals, our volunteers, and corporate partners – the opportunity to connect and collaborate.

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Gavin Spencer – Senior Business Development Manager

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Helen Tovey – Business Development – APM

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Wilson Partners

At Wilson Partners, we’re passionate about SME businesses and their owners. We’re accountants by trade, but really we’re a group of ambitious entrepreneurs and business enthusiasts that exists to provide the first-class information, analysis and advice that empowers our clients to make optimal financial decisions to achieve the best outcomes, and help them achieve their goals and priorities. With business advice and expertise in all manner of accounting at the heart of what we do, we help businesses at every stage of their journey, from foundation to exit. Whether it’s general accounting, strategic planning, tax, audit, valuation, acquisition or everything else in between, we will help you make better decisions.

We’re proud to work with MD2MD and sponsor this LeaderFest event.

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Emma Richards – Innovations Director – Wilson Partners

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Philippa Duckworth – Director Head of Audit

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HR Rely

We all need someone to rely on when times get tough; someone in our corner who can provide expert HR advice and support. HR Rely gives you just that. An expert law firm on your team, to help you navigate the increasingly complex world of employment legislation. HR Rely is a fixed fee service you can count on, so if you need commercially focussed, solution-driven, sector expertise, you need HR Rely.

Operating as part of a national law firm, our specialist regulated advisors will work with you, providing support on employment law and employee relations issues with guaranteed cost certainty. Using our sector expertise to provide pragmatic and strategic solutions, we aim to add real value to your business.

Do come and say hi at LeaderFest or get in touch: seema.champaneri@weightmans.com

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Seema Champaneri – HR Advisory Support – HR Rely, Weightmans LLP

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Green Park Conference Centre

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