Our 2026 Good Growth Summit brought more than 200 public and private sector leaders from across the UK to Manchester for a day dedicated to one shared ambition: driving good growth.

Delivered by Agent in partnership with vocL and the North West Business Leadership Team (NWBLT), the invite-only event returned for its second year at The Museum of Science and Industry.

More than 200 public and private sector leaders from across the UK came together to explore one shared ambition: how to create long-term, sustainable growth that benefits businesses, people and communities.

For us, the Summit was much more than a single day. Almost five months of strategy, planning, partnership engagement, speaker and guest curation, creative development, communications and event management went into bringing it to life.

Every element was carefully considered, from the themes explored and the people in the room to the creative direction, communications and on-the-day experience.

The Good Growth Summit was designed to bring together leaders with different perspectives around some of the biggest opportunities and challenges shaping the UK economy.

Working alongside vocL and NWBLT, we developed a programme spanning skills, innovation, communities, clean growth, placemaking, housing, infrastructure and regional investment.

The agenda featured keynote contributions, panel discussions and conversations designed to keep the day engaging while creating space for genuine debate and collaboration.

Partnership development was also a major part of the process.

SMS joined the Summit as principal partner, alongside strategic partners Essar Energy Transition, Spirit Energy, CGI, WSP, Bruntwood SciTech, Renewable UK and The Growth Company.

Together, the partner network brought expertise across energy, infrastructure, technology, property, sustainability and economic development, helping shape an event that reflected the breadth of the good growth agenda.

A major focus throughout the planning process was making sure the Summit brought together the right people, both on stage and in the room.

Keynote contributions came from Ian Smyth, Chief Executive Officer of SMS, Chris Woodroofe, Managing Director of Manchester Airport, and Ciara Keeling, Chief Operating Officer of Bruntwood SciTech.

Delegates also heard from Juergen Maier, co-founder of vocL and Chair of Great British Energy, Emma Degg, CEO of NWBLT, and senior leaders from across business, politics and the public sector.

The Summit concluded with supportive closing remarks from Deputy Leader of the Labour Party Lucy Powell MP, who praised the ambition and clear intentions in the room.

The breadth of speakers was deliberate. Good growth cannot be delivered by one sector alone, so the programme brought together a diverse mix of voices to challenge thinking, share ideas and identify opportunities to work together.

“To see so many influential people come together around a shared ambition for responsible, sustainable growth was incredibly powerful. It showed the appetite that exists to work across sectors and tackle some of the biggest challenges facing our economy and communities.

“For me, that is exactly why the Good Growth Summit matters. It is about using our networks and our influence for good, creating conversations that can lead to action and proving what is possible when brilliant people come together with a shared purpose.

“I’m incredibly proud of what we have created and of the team, partners, speakers and guests who helped bring it to life.”