This year’s Transform Business Festival will take place on February 22nd at Perth Concert Hall, in an event that promises to connect entrepreneurs, start-ups and businesses of all shapes and sizes over the course of just one day.
Created and delivered by Business Gateway & Elevator, in partnership with Perth & Kinross Council, Dundee City Council & Angus Council, the event is focussed on informing, educating and helping businesses and individuals transform their futures.
Excitingly, this year’s keynote speaker has been announced as Sir Jonathan Van Tam, the deputy Chief Medical Officer to the UK from 2017 to 2022. Known for his outstanding leadership roles and his straightforward communication style, Professor Van Tam will share invaluable insights on steering teams through adversity and the vital importance of collaboration.
A British healthcare professional specialising in influenza, including its epidemiology, transmission, vaccinology, antiviral drugs and pandemic preparedness, after hospital work, Van-Tam was involved variously as a university lecturer and within the pharmaceutical industry.
He became one of two Deputy Chief Medical Officers for England on 2 October 2017 and played a significant part in the UK’s response to the Covid-19 pandemic. In May 2023 he joined Covid-19 vaccine maker Moderna as a consultant.
As well as a breakfast session with Professor Van-Tam, attendees will benefit from:
- Inspirational and informative guest speaker sessions
- Bitesize Sessions and Fireside Chats to stimulate and educate
- Networking opportunities through our fun and engaging networking sessions
- An Ecosystem Village featuring key support partners in the Tayside Region
- A client success market, 1-1 advisory sessions and much more!
Headline Events
Designed to inspire you and your business to transform.
8am – 9:45 am. Business Breakfast with Professor Sir Jonathan Van Tam, Professor Gary McEwan, & Grant Laing. Hear from our inspirational speakers on the importance of collaborative leadership through challenging times
12noon – 1:30pm. Networking Lunch with Clootie McToot founder, Michelle Maddox, & Glen Lyon Coffee founder, Jamie Grant. Along with good food and chat, our guests will help you to ‘Build the Dream Team’!
Networking Events
Join business adviser Gordon Forbes in two networking sessions designed to grow your connections.
- 10:30am – 11:30am
- 2:30pm – 3:30pm
Bitesize Sessions
Throughout the day, the carefully selected programme of workshops has something for everyone.
- 10:00am – 10:30am. Going for Zero with Allison MacPherson – Sustainability and Net Zero, Scottish Enterprise. Advice to help you and your business make the most out of your Net Zero journey.
- 10:45am – 11:15am. Marketing v Communications, what is the difference with Fiona Robertson & Richard Neville – Robertson Neville Communication. Do you know the difference between marketing and communications and why you need both? Fiona & Richard explains it all.
- 11:30am – 12:00noon. The Future of Business with AI – with Stephen Whitelaw from the Orthic Consultancy. Al is already changing the world, and can have a huge impact on your business. Come along to this session to find out how you can work smarter and faster.
- 1:45pm – 2:15pm. Set-up Your Business for Sale Success with Ian Smith from Augmentum 360. Join Ian as he simplifies the art of selling.
- 2:30pm – 3:00pm. Strategies to Grow your Business with Alastair Donald from the Consultancy Network. What is growth? Where will it come from? Are you ready for it?
- 3:15pm – 3:45pm. Get Inside Your Employee’s Head: how to support them with Claire Standen from EmbodimentUK. How do you recruit, retain and encourage staff so they have the same passion for your business as you do? Claire will help you get inside your colleague’s heads and find out how to support and motivate them.
Fireside Chats
Join Speakers’ Corner and hear from local success stories and partners, for 15 minute bursts throughout the day.
- 9:45am Successfully Start your Business with Business Gateway Tayside
- 10:15am Support your employees to be happy & healthy at work – NHS Scotland
- 10:45am Approaching a lender and applying for grants – FSE
- 11:15am Supporting Women in Business – Business Gateway, Growbiz and Perthshire Women’s Network
- 11.45am How Your Business Can Utilise Video Game Technology
- 2:00pm Implications of AI, savour of the human race or it’s downfall
- 2:30pm Making money as a social enterprise – Giraffe
- 3:00pm Cybersecurity – how do you protect your business?
- 3:30pm Shell LiveWIRE – more than just a series of workshop