Keynote speakers announced for Make It British Forum

The keynote speakers for the Make It British Forum, which will take place on October 8 at Hatfield House, have been announced.

Julie Deane CBE, founder and CEO of Cambridge Satchel Co., Brant Richards co-founder of HebTroCo, and Simon Middleton founder of Blackshore Coastal Clothing, will join industry experts and British brands coming together to make it British.

Julie Deane CBE said: “Make It British continues to be such a source of support and inspiration to those of us who are committed to British manufacturing. It is my honour to speak at the in-person Forum. A strong business network is priceless, and in-person meetings are still the very best way to grow those networks.”

Simon Middleton, branding expert and founder of three successful British brands, including Shackleton and Blackshore Coastal Clothing, will speak about the triumphs, the challenges, and the occasional disasters of running his own businesses. He said: “I’m delighted to be speaking once again at a Make It British event. The new smaller format means it will be an even more valuable and powerful learning environment for anyone on the journey of building their own British made brand.”

Brant Richards, and his co-founder Ed Oxley, have grown HebTroCo from an idea in the pub to a multi-million turnover in just six years, with all their products made in the UK. Brant will share tips on how to get people to listen and take notice of your brand, when no one really cares.

The Make it British Forum took a hiatus during the pandemic, and this is the first time that Make it British has hosted an in-person event for over three years.

Kate Hills, founder of Make it British, said: “We feel that now is the right time to get people together again. We are at a pivotal time in UK textile and clothing manufacturing. Concern over the environment and unethical supply chains, as well as the rising cost of importing goods, has fuelled a huge increase in demand from brands looking to source locally.  Our Forum enables business owners to come together and share ideas and knowledge, as well as creating that all-important human connection that has been missing at business events over the last couple of years”