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The future won’t be shaped by yesterday’s thinking
Many of us feel that we want to belong to be part of a different story; we just don’t know how change is happening really fast. We’re living through rapid disruption, deep uncertainty and accelerating complexity. The path through the chaos to a regenerative future isn’t straightforward and for many, it feels unclear. For business owners, this is also a moment of possibility. Finding that path requires a journey, a new perspective to shift the dynamics of our underlying systems. How can we lead with clarity in uncertain times? What are the skills, relationships and resources that will support us? Who are the people and organisations we can align with to accelerate change? The Founders Club supports our members with the tools, frameworks and spaces to bring about meaningful transformations in our business and the communities and organisations we care about.
Schedule:
8:00 am - 9:30 am
Registration and Networking
Start the day with fresh connections, conversation, and coffee.
9:30 am - 9:45 am
Welcome: Why Regeneration Matters Now
Setting the tone for the day, this session explores why regeneration isn't a passing trend, it’s the foundation for resilient businesses, thriving communities and lasting impact.
9:45 am - 10:30 am
Keynote Session: Shaping a Future-Fit Economy
Author of There Is No Planet B and founder of Small World Consulting, Mike Berners-Lee opens Regenerate 2025 with a powerful call to action. In this keynote, he explores what it truly means to build a future-fit economy. A vision for how business leaders can navigate disruption and build an economy aligned with people, place and planet.
Mike Berners-Lee
10:30 am - 11:15 am
People, Place & Planet: From Sustainability to Regeneration
This session explores what regeneration means through the lens of land, leadership, and place, connecting environmental action with human and economic renewal. Nick Lancaster opens with a reflection on the shift from sustainability to regeneration. Kevin Beaty brings a natural capital and biodiversity perspective, drawing from decades in land management and ecological planning to show how the land we live on can power regeneration. Jan Foo explores regenerative leadership, how new models of thinking, being, and doing can create more connected, resilient, ecocentric organisations.
Kevin Beaty
Nick Lancaster
11:15 am - 11:45 am
Coffee & Conversations
Time to spark meaningful conversations and intentional connections.
11:45 am - 12:30 pm
Local Business, Global Impact: Stories of Regeneration in Action
At the heart of regeneration are the founders doing the work, building businesses that blend creativity, community, and sustainability. Ian Steel Atkinsons Coffee Roasters & Tea Merchants, reviving a heritage brand through traceability, responsible production, and purpose-led leadership. Kate Brundrett, The Cumbria Network, helping founders rediscover creativity and confidence through regenerative leadership. Maria Benjamin, Dodgson Wood, pioneers circular, ethical, and community-based enterprise in the rural economy.
Ian Steel
Kate Brundrett
Maria Benjamin
12:30 pm - 1:30 pm
Lunch
Refuel, reset, and enjoy locally sourced food while connecting with others in this stunning lakeside setting.
1:30 pm - 2:15 pm
Innovation & Investment in the North where innovation meets capital
This session brings together leaders at the intersection of innovation, investment, and impact, exploring how ideas become scalable ventures that drive regional regeneration. Alan Reid, Innovate UK Business Growth, supports SMEs in turning innovation into investment-ready ventures. Stuart Thompson, Reorient Consulting, aligns strategy, leadership, and capital to unlock sustainable growth. Dr Phil Leigh, University of Cumbria / Electech Innovation Cluster, bridges research, energy systems, and business collaboration to power transformation across the North.
Alan Reid MBE
Professor Phil Leigh
Stuart Thompson
2:15 pm - 3:00 pm
Interactive Workshop: The Sustainability Edit
Sustainability is a journey built on small actions, steady progress, and conscious choices. Every business influences the world around it through the energy it uses, the materials it sources, and the relationships it nurtures. This session helps you reflect on how your business operates, connects, and plans for the future, with practical tools to embed sustainability into daily decisions.
3:00 pm - 3:30 pm
Afternoon Break
The home stretch, take a moment for fresh air, movement, and a reset before the final sessions.
3:30 pm - 4:30 pm
Break Out Session: Cross-Sector Collaboration
Regenerative thinking, walk and talk inquiry, Q&A, and panel discussion.
4:30 pm - 5:00 pm
Closing Reflections: A Call to Impact
A collective pause to capture our insights and step into the next chapter of your story.
5:00 pm - 5:30 pm
Regenerative Cocktails at our Woodland Pop Up Bar
Unwind, relax, and connect over a regenerative cocktail in our pop-up Woodland Bar. Enjoy locally crafted spirits from Zoe at Shed One Distillery, expertly mixed and blended by Tom at Kindred Spirit Cocktails.
9:30 am - 10:00 am
Breakfast & Networking
10:00 am - 10:25 am
Open Space Conversations
You choose your conversation, exploring the three core themes: People, Place and Planet
10:30 am - 11:15 am
Regenerative Finance
This session brings together three leaders redefining how finance can fuel a regenerative North, where investment, innovation, and purpose combine to drive long-term regional growth. Sue Barnard (British Business Bank), Rory Southworth (Fhunded Angels), and Niamh Donovan (Sustainable Ventures North) will explore how access to capital, green finance, and ecosystem collaboration can transform the way we fund and scale sustainable businesses.
Sue Barnard
Rory Southworth
Niahm Donovan
11:30 am - 12:15 pm