#VFS26 Schedule
Ten years in, one unmissable day. Your Festival of Innovation awaits.
From keynote talks and award ceremonies to hands-on sessions and networking, here’s everything on offer on the day – so you can plan your route through the Festival of Innovation and make the most of your time with us.
Want to know who’s taking to the stage? Meet the speakers
Take a look at the full agenda below, and remember you can explore and connect with Innovators, Exhibitors and Partners all day in the cluster zones. Clusters include: Ocean Science, Marine & Maritime, Creative, AI & Gaming, Space, Defence & Security, Life Sciences & Health Tech, and Climate Tech. Check out the event map here.
Your Challenge, Our Network is an interactive, audience-led discussion designed to connect businesses, innovators and researchers with the support, expertise and networks they need to move forward.
Bring your biggest business challenge, innovation barrier or growth ambition to the table and put it directly to a panel of regional experts. Whether you’re looking to scale a business, access funding, commercialise research, develop new products, build partnerships or overcome barriers to growth, the panel will draw on their collective knowledge and networks to explore practical solutions and opportunities.
This fast-paced session is shaped by the audience, ensuring every discussion is relevant, actionable and focused on real-world challenges facing innovators and businesses today.
by Innovate UK and Hampshire County Council
You can’t hand off what you still believe only you can do. It’s why the hire didn’t give you your time back, and why the ceiling you assumed was a strategy problem hasn’t moved. Underneath the decisions that matter – what to charge, who to hire, what to say yes to – sit beliefs about work and success you picked up early and haven’t questioned since. They’re the reason you got this far. They haven’t been reviewed in years.
Bring a decision you’re stuck on. In 30 minutes, you’ll work out which belief is behind it, what it’s been giving you, and what it’s now costing you. You’ll leave with one thing to do differently next week.
By Anna Lundberg, One Step Outside
Most products don’t fail on demand. They fail on regulation.
Selling a physical product in the UK means CE/UKCA conformity, product safety and labelling rules, Responsible Person obligations, EPR packaging registration, VAT and Making Tax Digital, and marketplace compliance checks. None of it cares if you’re shipping 200 units or 2 million – there’s no small-business exemption.
After ten years in ecommerce, six focused on UK market entry, I’ve seen the same pattern: these requirements get discovered after the product’s already manufactured and labelled – the most expensive point to fix them.
This session maps the compliance gates against your commercialisation timeline – what applies, when it bites, and what getting it wrong costs in rejected shipments, delistings and enforcement.
by Drew Cooper, Lantara
Thinking about joining an accelerator or incubator, but not sure which one is right for you, or whether it’s worth it at all?
In this practical workshop, the teams from Barclays Eagle Lab will explain how accelerators, incubators and clusters work, how they differ, what they can do for your business at different stages of growth and how to include them in your networks.
By Barclays Eagle Labs
Drawing on their experience advising growing businesses, Blake Morgan‘s specialists in commercial, corporate and employment law will share practical insights into the legal risks that can arise as organisations scale.
From negotiating customer contracts and preparing for investment to managing shareholder relationships and taking on employees, we’ll explore the common risks that can undermine growth, delay opportunities, or reduce business value if left unchecked.
Designed for founders, innovators and scaling businesses, this practical session will provide actionable insights to help identify, manage, and mitigate legal risk, allowing you to focus on sustainable growth with confidence.
By Blake Morgan
You’ve painstakingly put the work into developing your IP. Now make all that effort count when you pitch for investment. Hear firsthand which IP mistakes can hold startups back, how to avoid them and how to show investors the value you’ve built, and not let it come back to haunt your investment round.
By Openshaw & Co.
The Barclays Eagle Labs Networking Zone is open for general networking. Use the space to arrange a catch-up with someone you already know, or just drop in to make new connections.
The VFS Networking Zone sponsored by Barclays Eagle Labs, open to everyone throughout the day. During this time, Barclays Eagle Lab mentors will be on hand to offer business support and advice – come along and meet the team.
Discover how artificial intelligence is transforming the way businesses innovate, operate and grow. Gain practical insights into emerging trends, real-world applications and the opportunities AI presents for organisations of all sizes.
Powered by Solent FutureScape
Explore the innovations helping businesses tackle environmental challenges and build a more sustainable future. Hear from experts driving change through climate-focused technologies and solutions.
Powered by Barclays Eagle Labs
Discover how innovation is shaping the future of defence, space and security. Learn about emerging opportunities, collaboration and the technologies driving resilience across these rapidly evolving sectors.
Powered by Innovate UK, Barclays Eagle Labs & BattleLab
Hear from founders as they share honest insights into building and growing successful businesses. Expect practical lessons, personal experiences and advice for entrepreneurs at every stage of their journey.
Powered by Blake Morgan and Openshaw Co
Artificial Intelligence is rapidly reshaping the creative economy, challenging traditional business models while unlocking new opportunities for innovation, productivity and growth. From design, marketing and content creation to film, music, publishing and digital experiences, creative businesses are facing both the promise and the pressure of AI-driven transformation.
Powered by Southern Creative Catalyst & University of Bournemouth
Join Jason Bradbury and Ed Gould as they recap an incredible day and host the VFS Awards ceremony, celebrating:
- Innovator of the Year
- Early Stage Innovator
- Open Mic Champion
- Highest Growth Potential
Best known for hosting Channel 5’s The Gadget Show, Jason Bradbury is fronting our 10th anniversary Festival. Expect energy, sharp questions and a host who knows how to make tech and innovation genuinely entertaining to watch.
Also joining us is Alex Bezuidenhout, co-host of The Good Ideas Club podcast, who’ll be sharing his top tips for ‘The Innovator’s Trench’ and why the messy middle means you’re onto something.
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