Partnering with BGF for Growth

BGF partnered with PepTalk to inspire more than 200 CEOs, founders, and chairs from across the BGF portfolio at the Science Museum in London. The aim was clear. Bring senior leaders together, share practical insight, and spark collaboration around shared growth goals.

About the Client: BGF

BGF is the UK and Ireland’s most active growth capital investor. It supports ambitious entrepreneurs with long-term capital, deep expertise, and access to an influential network of business leaders. Since launch, BGF has invested £4bn in more than 600 companies and continues to play a central role in driving innovation and sustainable growth across the UK and Ireland.

Event Objectives

BGF set two clear goals for the Growth Forum.‍

1. ‍Deliver cutting-edge insight The keynote needed to be inspiring, credible, and grounded in real-world experience. The audience expected clarity on the economic and political forces shaping the business environment.‍
2. Strengthen connections across the portfolio. The event was designed to deepen relationships between leaders, encourage peer-to-peer learning, and reinforce a shared sense of purpose across the BGF network.

How PepTalk Delivered

PepTalk curated a programme that balanced high-level perspective with practical application.

The opening keynote was delivered by Alastair Campbell, former Director of Communications and Strategy under Tony Blair. Drawing on his experience in politics and journalism, Alastair explored:

• The geopolitical landscape, including the recent US election and its implications for the UK and global business
• The priorities of the new Labour government and the Chancellor’s approach to growth
• Leadership and resilience in an era of political and economic uncertainty

His session gave leaders a clear-eyed view of the environment they are operating in, along with practical guidance on navigating complexity at board and executive level.

From Insight to Action

The programme then shifted from perspective to practice.

Speaker Bruce Daisley, former Head of Twitter Europe and a leading voice on workplace culture, delivered a keynote on building resilient organisations. He focused on how culture, habits, and leadership behaviours directly influence performance, especially during periods of sustained change.

This was followed by a high-energy, interactive workshop led by Bonnie Linieres, PepTalk facilitator and Learning and Development expert. Working in small groups, leaders explored:

• Practical actions to improve employee resilience
• How leadership behaviours shape culture in hybrid and distributed teams
• What organisations can do now to create healthier, more sustainable ways of working

The session closed with a live Q&A with Bruce, who responded directly to themes raised in the workshop and offered tailored insight for the audience.

The Outcome

By combining geopolitical context, leadership insight, and hands-on discussion, the Growth Forum delivered both inspiration and substance. Leaders left with a stronger understanding of the external landscape, practical ideas to apply inside their organisations, and new connections across the BGF portfolio.

Client Feedback

“PepTalk were an excellent partner for BGF’s 2024 Growth Forum at the Science Museum. They delivered two exceptional sessions which captivated our audience, adding immense value to the event and sparking meaningful conversations around growth and innovation.” — Sophie Kulik, BGF

Looking to Inspire Senior Leaders?

PepTalk works with organisations to design and deliver leadership events that combine credible voices, practical insight, and meaningful interaction. Email hello@getapeptalk.com, visit www.getapeptalk.com, or call +44 20 3835 2929 (UK) or +1 737 888 5112 (US) to discuss your next event.