Connected Britain 2026: agenda and talks
143 sessions across 12 theatres. Times and access details as published by the organiser — always check the official programme on the day.
Getting in
Every published ticket type, including the criteria-based free pass, includes conference stage access. There is no exhibition-only ticket.
Checked 2026-08-04 · organiser programme
Wednesday 9 September 2026
- 10:30
- 10:35Introduction to the ZonePeople, Skills & Recruitment ZoneIncluded
Leigh Smyth, CEO, ImpactMatch · Tom Kegode, Founder, Sparkshift
- 10:55Why Empathy is the High-Performance Engine of 2030People, Skills & Recruitment ZoneIncluded
Kamel Hothi OBE, Chief Strategy Officer, GoldenPoint Global - UK & India
- 11:40Recruitment Zone Sponsor PresentationPeople, Skills & Recruitment ZoneIncluded
- 15:20Investing in the architects of 2030People, Skills & Recruitment ZoneIncluded
Puja Patel, Strategic Programmes Lead, Santander
- 15:4010 million futures: Fair chance hiring at scalePeople, Skills & Recruitment ZoneIncluded
Jonathan Ley, CEO, Make Time Count · Neil Wood, COO, Fair Chance Business Alliance · Matthias Stausberg, Group Advocacy Director, Virgin · Simon Blockley, CEO - UK & Europe, Impellam UK & Europe
- 16:00The ethics of acceleration: Balancing rapid tech innovation with human-centric valuesPeople, Skills & Recruitment ZoneIncluded
Annie Hind, Digital Platform Lead, Lloyds Banking Group · Nick Edwards, Group Chief Technology Officer, The AA · Maria Thomas, Learning Delivery Senior Manager, Government Digital Service, Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) · Karen Blake, Tech Inclusion, Policy & Organisational Transformation Strategist, City of London Corp and Department for Science, Innovation and Technology
- 16:20Fireside chat: AbilityNet & EdenChase AssociatesPeople, Skills & Recruitment ZoneIncluded
Cressida Stephenson, CEO, EdenChase Associates · Amy Low, CEO, AbilityNet
Thursday 10 September 2026
- 11:15
- 12:00Engineering the future: The evolution of apprenticeships and early career talentPeople, Skills & Recruitment ZoneIncluded
Sarah Chowdhury, Group People Transformation and Skills Director, OSB Group · Chris Mann, Director of Learning & Assurance, ECITB · Dan Tingle, Head of Development Programmes, National Grid · Giles Hudson, Apprentice Project Manager, National Grid
- 12:40Celebrating inclusive employment success across telecoms and green energyPeople, Skills & Recruitment ZoneIncluded
- 13:50Personality – The new currencyPeople, Skills & Recruitment ZoneIncluded
Tom Simpson, CEO, StartingPoint · Matt McKay, Founder/CEO, GOALD