Former BBC Dragon to speak at Evening Standard SME event
TV dragon Theo Paphitis will be this year’s keynote speaker when the Evening Standard’s SME XPO event returns to London’s Docklands in April. Now in its third year, this two-day event will once again take place at the ExCeL Centre at Royal Victoria Dock (E16 1XL).
As ever, the SME XPO gathering is a vibrant, all-encompassing platform, dedicated to dynamic businesses which are considering scaling-up. The event is scheduled for Tuesday, April 23rd and Wednesday, April 24th.
This well-attended exhibition brings together a diverse range of businesses and experts, whose appearances will hopefully inspire growth, innovation and collaboration. Anyone wishing to visit can register for free by clicking here.
In 2024, more than 60 leading entrepreneurs will have a platform at SME XPO, including keynote speaker Theo Paphitis. The 64-year-old is best known for his role on the BBC business programme Dragons’ Den. He is also a former chairman of Millwall Football Club.
Over the years, Theo has revived the fortunes of notable high street brands, such as Ryman and Robert Dyas to name but a few. April’s event provides a platform for scale-up businesses to showcase their products and services, while connecting with potential clients.
Attendees will gain valuable insights from industry leaders, with more than 5,000 SME founders and owners all sharing a space under one roof. Sponsors, exhibitors and partners will take centre stage at this illuminating two-day business bonanza. These companies include HSBC UK, Barclays Eagle Labs Workday, Virgin Atlantic, Eurostar for Business and Your Business magazine – plus so many more.
The event encourages networking and, in 2024, will feature two new innovations: ‘Meet the Investor’ and ‘speed networking’ sessions. Attendees will have the opportunity to engage in a range of workshops and seminars conducted by industry experts. These seminars will cover topics such as strategy, investment, marketing and technology.
As usual, SME XPO promises to be a transformative event for small and medium-sized businesses. Those who visit will learn about the tools, knowledge and connections needed to successfully scale-up in today’s competitive business environment. Also speaking in 2024 will be Tim Martin, who is best known for being the founder and chairman of JD Wetherspoon.
And another former Dragons’ Den investor, Piers Linney, summed up the benefits of this annual event by saying: “This is a brilliant opportunity to network and cover ground quickly, that would otherwise take weeks to achieve. It’s an incredibly well-attended show and it’s great to see such a positive atmosphere.”
About SME XPO: A free event attended by more than 100 best-in-class suppliers and over 60 speakers, offering visitors an opportunity to learn about start-up strategies, finance, emerging technologies, marketing trends and scaling-up. Visitors will be advised on how to elevate their businesses to the next level. The event is held in one of the largest halls at the ExCeL Centre, London.
About the Evening Standard: Founded in 1827, the Evening Standard is the UK’s largest quality daily. It sets the agenda in politics and business, as well as being first with news and sports stories. The brand reaches a total of 13.1 million cross-platform readers each month.
The SME XPO will be running simultaneously alongside its sister event ‘The Watercooler’. Both are taking place at the ExCeL Centre. ‘The Watercooler’ will discuss strategies, innovations and ways to improve businesses. It will also illustrate the importance of a company’s wellbeing footprint, along with workforce productivity.
