Retail Conference 2025
Join us at IET London: Savoy Place, for an afternoon of thought-provoking discussions, practical workshops, and meaningful networking with fellow industry professionals as we explore the tools and strategies retailers can use to adapt and thrive in today’s challenging economic climate.
Date
Wednesday 1st October 2025
Time
12:00pm – 5:15pm
Location
IET London: Savoy Place, 2 Savoy Place, London, WC2R 0BL
About the conference
The FRP Retail team, in partnership with leading industry experts, will explore the forces reshaping retail and uncover the opportunities hidden within the disruption. From supply chain volatility to shifting consumer behaviours and digital transformation, our speakers will share actionable intelligence and practical advice to help you navigate this evolving landscape with confidence.
Agenda
Workshop 1
‘The Investment and lending landscape for retailers’
Join our expert panel as they explore key themes shaping the retail capital environment, including:
- Recent trends in M&A, debt financing, and public market activity
- Practical steps for preparing a capital event
- Insights into the future of raising capital in the retail sector
Moderator
- Ben Hughes, Partner – FRP Advisory
Speakers
- Victoria Kisseleva, Partner – FRP Advisory
- Richard Sanfourche, Partner – FRP Advisory
- Dave Edwards, Partner – FRP Advisory
- Matt Goode, Head of Consumer & Managing Director – Cavendish Capital Markets
Workshop 2
‘Navigating a crisis to ensure future resilience’
Crises are unpredictable, but how organisations respond can define their future. From cyber-attacks, business interruptions and insurance claims, forensic engagement often signals that something has gone wrong. This session reframes crisis management as an opportunity for transformation, helping retailers, operators, and advisors move from reactive firefighting to proactive resilience planning. Our expert team will explore who to call, what actions to take, and how to emerge stronger.
Moderator
- Laura Dymott, Partner – FRP Advisory
Speakers
- Alison Hollywood, Partner – FRP Advisory
- Joanna Grant, Managing Partner – Fenchurch Law
- Sarah Milner, Technical Director – MacTavish
- Paul Stiff, Former Global Head of Insurance – Ocado Group
Ask the experts panel
‘State of UK retail: From disruption to opportunity’
Join FRP’s Phil Reynolds and a panel of leading industry experts as they explore the evolving landscape of UK retail. From economic headwinds and shifting consumer behaviours to digital transformation and supply chain pressures, this session will explore how disruption is reshaping the sector, and where the opportunities lie for retailers, investors, and advisors alike.
Workshop 3
‘Agile business models for a changing retail landscape’
Join our expert team as they explore key themes shaping the future of agile retail strategy, including:
- The impact of global economic disruption on supply chains and margins
- Domestic challenges for UK retailers and operational decision-making
- Strategic agility and contingency planning in times of uncertainty
- Implications for restructuring, valuations, and capital readiness
Presenters
- Alastair Massey, Partner – FRP Advisory
- Justin Matthews, Partner – FRP Advisory
- Jim Davies, Partner – FRP Advisory
Workshop 4
‘Rethinking retail talent in a changing world’
This session explores how retailers can evolve their approach to talent in a world shaped by shifting expectations, new technologies, and changing consumer needs. It’s not about traditional hiring, it’s about identifying potential, building the right skills, and creating flexible environments that attract and retain the talent retail now demands.
Our experts will explore how to spot new perspectives over past experience, what “human-first” roles mean in modern retail, and how to support teams through transformation. This session focuses on the people at the heart of retail, and how to help them thrive.
Moderator
- Tony Sturge, Director – FRP Advisory
Speakers
- Nick Irving, Advisor – Zachary Daniels
- Bridget Lea, Vice President & General Manager UK – Snap Inc.
Expert panel
‘The Future of Retail – What’s to come?’
Retail is no longer just about selling products, it’s about adapting to change faster than ever. From supply chain shocks to shifting consumer values, today’s challenges demand more than survival; they call for reinvention. This panel explores the future of retail through the lens of innovation and resilience: What strategies are winning? How are leaders redesigning their playbooks? And what can we learn from disruptors across tech, logistics, and experience design?
with Tony Wright
Tony Wright
Tony joined FRP in 2013 as a Partner in Restructuring Advisory, based in our London office. He is a Chartered Accountant and Insolvency Practitioner, and has over 20 years’ experience of advising corporates across all stages of their business life cycle, with a particular focus on distress.
His extensive experience includes the liquidation of the UK’s leading bed manufacturer, the administration and successful sale of a Midlands-based manufacturing company saving over 90% of jobs, and the pre-packaged sale of a men’s clothing retailer that saved more than 600 jobs across Europe.
Don’t miss out!
Sign up to attend the conference for a unique opportunity to connect, share ideas, and gain practical takeaways tailored to the retail sector’s evolving landscape.
