New conference offers ‘PLATFORM’ for business growth & investment

Join us at the PLATFORM Conference in Newcastle on Tuesday 28 April 2026

A major new business conference in the North East of England is set to provide “rocket fuel” for founders by connecting them with investors & scaleup experts.

The first full-day PLATFORM Conference takes place on Tuesday 28 April in Newcastle upon Tyne.

The event is organised by Paul Lancaster (Co-Founder of Stellar Business Events) who successfully staged the 5-day UK Startup & Scaleup Week festival in Sunderland last June, along with the three Newcastle Startup Week festivals before that.

“By bringing leading experts together in one day, delegates will have access to some of the best business minds in the region, who have an incredible track-record when it comes to scaling a company” said Paul.

The new PLATFORM Conference builds on the popular monthly, half-day PLATFORM events.

To date, 55 events have taken place in Newcastle, Sunderland, Middlesbrough & Edinburgh since January 2024 – attracting over 2,000 delegates.

Among those speaking at the PLATFORM Conference is Lee Hartley (Founder, Fairstone Group & now CEO of Castrius Capital Partners) who is pulling together a £10bn investment fund for ambitious North East businesses.

The PLATFORM Conference boasts a stacked line-up of expert speakers within their respective sectors.

It includes scale-up coach Ian Kinnery (a previous European Business Coach of the Year winner) & Neil Stephenson, one of the North of England’s most active early-stage angel investors.

Kat Bond (Head of Partner Success, Xero) will share how their AI-powered accounting software helps people run their business better & get paid faster.

Additionally, Dr Marc Owens – a world-leading expert in team dynamics – will deliver a talk on ‘Overcoming Troubles: The Science of Teamwork’.

Sessions will cover leadership, technology, finance & operational scaling with panels & networking during & after the event.

Kate Haywar d (Xero Managing Director, UK) said: “At Xero, we’re passionate about backing small businesses & their advisors, who power the UK economy. That’s why I’m thrilled that Xero will be supporting PLATFORM events this year – they bring our community together, spark fresh ideas & showcase the very best of what digital accounting can do.”

James Katirai (Head of Investments, NEL Fund Managers) said: “Supporting the PLATFORM Conference is a fantastic opportunity for founders, investors & advisers who are driving growth & innovation to make meaningful connections.”

“For NEL, it’s about offering ‘more than capital’ – bringing our experience, networks & energy to help businesses unlock their full potential.”

“We’re excited to be part of the conversations & proud to support people as they take their next steps.”

Nicky Jolley (Founder & Managing Director, HR2day Limited) added: “Being a corporate sponsor of the PLATFORM events has been great for me because it’s given me the chance to connect with likeminded business owners who genuinely want to collaborate, support one another & share real experiences.”

“The quality of conversations & relationships I’ve built through PLATFORM have been invaluable – not just for business growth but for having a trusted network of people who understand the challenges & pace of running a company.”

“That’s exactly why we’ve continued our sponsorship for a second year. The community feels authentic, the opportunities are meaningful & it’s one of the few networks where you truly get out what you put in.”

“I’m looking forward to another year of meeting brilliant people & strengthening those connections even further.”

Mark Renney (Managing Director, Wubbleyou) said: “I remember my first Newcastle Startup Week event in 2019, the enthusiasm, the people & ambition just blew my mind – ever since then I’ve known this is a force for good in the North East – we need more events like this & more people like Paul & Neil making them happen.”