From Growth to Gold

From Growth to Gold is a focused one-day event for agency leaders, offering real-world insights, peer discussion, and practical strategies for scaling, funding, and future-proofing your business.

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A must attend event for ambitious agencies looking to kick-start their growth

Join us for From Growth to Gold for keynotes, roundtables, and panels packed with insights, strategies, and networking. Book your spot now!

Running an agency isn’t just about delivering great client work. It’s about building a sustainable, valuable business. Whether you’re focused on scaling, securing funding, or planning for an eventual exit, the journey is full of challenges. That’s why we created From Growth to Gold – a day designed to give agency leaders real insight, practical advice, and meaningful connection.

The 2026 edition builds on the best of this year’s event, with even more room for shared ideas and honest conversations through a series of focused roundtable sessions open to all attendees.

So, what can you expect on the day?

Morning Kickstart
We’ll open with a keynote from someone who’s walked the agency path – sharing real-world lessons from growing and leading a business in today’s market. It’s not about theory or trend-chasing, just honest stories and valuable insights.

Plus, you’ll hear from two lively panel discussions.

Deep Dive Roundtables
This isn’t a sit-back-and-listen kind of event. You’ll take part in small, focused roundtable discussions led by seasoned operators who’ve faced the same challenges you have. While the final topics are still being shaped, you can expect practical, honest conversations on issues like leveraging technology for growth, tackling talent challenges, exploring international expansion, and preparing for M&A or exit.

These sessions are designed to go deeper – giving you space to ask questions, share experiences, and come away with useful ideas you can actually apply.

Looking Ahead
We’ll close the day with a final discussion bringing together our speakers and facilitators to reflect on the key themes, highlight common threads, and offer a grounded perspective on where the agency world is heading. This isn’t about vague predictions – it’s about practical foresight.

Who is this event for?

This event is designed for agency owners and senior leaders who are

  • Looking to scale their business in a sustainable way
  • Exploring funding or investment opportunities
  • Considering a future exit strategy
  • Focused on increasing their agency’s long-term value
  • Eager to learn from those with real-world experience

Because of the nature of the conversations, we purposely limit the event to a smaller audience.

Agenda

10:00
Welcome & Setting the scene for the day

Hosted by David Prior, Prolific North

10:10
Keynote session

Chris Attewell, ex CEO of Search Laboratory

Chris spent 10 years helping grow Search Laboratory into one of the UK’s largest independent digital agencies with over 150 staff across offices in Leeds and Austin, Texas, and ultimately leading the company to its acquisition by Havas Media Network in 2022 during his time as CEO. Post-acquisition, Chris spent 3 years working as part the Havas Media leadership team in the UK, giving him a fresh perspective on agency land through the eyes of a network agency.

10:40
Agency to Product path panel

Moderated by David Prior, Prolific North

Panel:
- Mark Camp, CEO and Founder of Propello Cloud
- Martin Meadows, Managing Director at Workhouse Creative Agency
- Claire Williamson, Founder & MD of Resonance & Agentcy

11:10
Refreshments & networking break
11:40
Growth to Acquisition panel

Moderated by David Prior, Prolific North

Panel:
- Rob Shaw, CEO at HUB
- Clair Heaviside, Chief Creative Officer at Embryo & previously Co-Founder of Serotonin

12:00
Roundtable discussions - choose one of five topics

- Agency M&A
- Creating and maintaining value in your agency to get the best exit
- Scalability for saleability
- Accelerating growth

13:00
Lunch & networking break
13:45
Roundtable discussions - choose one of five topics

- Agency M&A
- Creating and maintaining value in your agency to get the best exit
- Scalability for saleability
- Accelerating growth

14:45
Looking to the future & Closing remarks

Event host David Prior will be joined by the roundtable moderators for an overview of the discussion and closing remarks.

15:00
Event end

Speakers

Christopher Attewell
Chris Attewell
Ex-CEO
Search Laboratory
Chris spent 10 years helping grow Search Laboratory into one of the UK’s largest independent digital agencies with over 150 staff across offices in Leeds and Austin, Texas, and ultimately leading the company to its acquisition by Havas Media Network in 2022 during his time as CEO. Post-acquisition, Chris spent 3 years working as part the Havas Media leadership team in the UK, giving him a fresh perspective on agency land through the eyes of a network agency.
Mark Camp
Mark Camp
CEO & Founder
Propello Cloud
Mark Camp is the founder of Propello Cloud and a former agency director with more than 15 years’ experience helping enterprise organisations solve complex marketing and digital challenges. Throughout his agency career, a recurring theme was customer loyalty — how brands attract, retain and grow customers through more meaningful, value-led relationships.
Rob Shaw HUB
Rob Shaw
CEO
HUB
Rob Shaw is the CEO of HUB, an independent, integrated marketing agency based in Leeds. He has previously been CEO of a number of notable agencies including Jaywing PLC, Epiphany Solutions and CreativeRace as well as being on the board of Latitude Group. He has bought and sold agencies in the UK and Australia. With over 30 years’ experience, Rob has managed services for some of the UK's largest brands including Lloyds Bank, Pets at Hone, ASDA, Greggs, Pepsi, Mattel and O2.
Clair Heaviside
Clair Heaviside
Chief Creative Officer
Embryo
Clair co-founded Serotonin, an award-winning creative and digital agency, in 2019, and grew the business to be recognised for both creative and strategic excellence. In 2026 Serotonin was acquired by Embryo - one of the industry’s leading independent agencies, building on their strategic and performance expertise. She now takes on the role of Chief Creative Officer, responsible for strengthening and expanding Embryo’s creative and brand offering.
Steve Kuncewicz
Steve Kuncewicz
Head of Creative, Digital & Marketing
Glaisyers ETL
Steve leads Glaisyers ETL’s Creative, Digital & Marketing team and specialises in intellectual property, media, social media, marketing and privacy law, with a nationally recognised niche specialism in social media matters. He works mainly in the media, digital, creative, film, television, publishing, advertising and PR sectors, and is regularly listed as a “Recommended Lawyer” in the Legal 500. 
Martin Meadows
Martin Meadows
Managing Director
Workhouse Creative Agency
Claire Williamson
Claire Williamson
Founder & MD
Resonance & Agentcy
Claire Williamson is Co-Founder of Resonance, a B2B tech communications consultancy, and CEO of Agentcy, an influencer intelligence platform spun out of the agency. She has built her career at the intersection of technology, media, social and influence, working with high-growth and enterprise brands across cybersecurity, cloud, fintech and AI.

Secure your ticket

We restrict capacity to 70 agency leaders to ensure roundtable discussions stay on track so we recommend securing your ticket early!

Sponsored By

Glaisyers
Headliner - Glaisyers
KPMG (1)
Headliner - KMPG
Propello Cloud
Synergist