Conference Agenda

08.45 - 09.10 Registration and coffee

09.10 - 09.15 Chairman's welcome and introductory remarks Mark Stretton, editor, M&C Report

09.15 - 09.45 Economics: navigating the business cycle Paul Ormerod, founding director of the Henley Centre and Volterra Ormerod is the author of numerous books on economics, including: Why Most Things Fail (Business Week's book of the year), the Death of Economics and Butterfly Economics. An expert on the business cycle, he will challenge pub leaders to think differently, consider the stumbling blocks facing consumer businesses and the actions that will separate winners from losers.

09.45 - 10.15 Deals and finance: Life after leverage Jim Fallon, former managing director, McQueen Fallon will explore the sector's journey to a brave new world: the wall of restructurings and financings facing the sector, the future shape of sector M&A, company structures and leverage.

10.15 - 11.00 Panel Debate: free of tie or better of tie? Following the findings of the high-profile Business and Enterprise Committee, and a possible competition commission probe, this panel discussion will examine the role of the tie in the pub industry: is this a model whose time has passed or does it constitute an equitable agreement where both the interests of tenant and pub company are aligned? Brian Binley, MP, BEC member and vice chair of 'Save the Pub' group Alistair Darby, managing director, Marston's Hamish Stoddart, chairman, Peach Pub Company Francis Patton, non executive director, Milestone Roger Whiteside, managing director (leased), Punch Taverns

11.00 - 11.30 Coffee and networking

11.30 - 12.00 The consumer complex Paul Flatters, managing partner, Trajectory Partnership Consumers have to varying degrees altered their spending habits. Flatters will cut through the complex and confusing matrix of consumer behaviour - drawing on exclusive research across social classes, age ranges and regions of the UK - to provide delegates with a clearer picture of how consumers are behaving in the downturn.

12.00 - 12.30 Are your customers as satisfied? Tom Fender, Director, HIM! Fender will present startlingly disconcerting findings from a current survey of almost 5,000 pubgoers, drawing insights from this research and analysing the reasons behind these results. Less than two thirds of pub customers see the pub as an important part of their community...

12.30 - 13.30 Panel discussion: Creating value through innovation in the UK on-trade Patrick Dempsey, managing director, Whitbread Hotels & Restaurants Tim Bacon, managing director, Living Ventures John Barnes, chairman, Novus Leisure Richard Bigg, managing director, Canteloupe Group Nick Blair, director, Pernod Ricard Rhys Oldfield, director, Be At One John Ray, industry manager, Google

13.30 - 14.30 Lunch and networking

14.30 - 15.00 Weathering the political storm John Grogan, MP for Selby and chairman of the All-Party Parliamentary Beer Group Grogan will outline his thoughts on the challenges faced by the pub industry, and how it best counters the sizeable threats of the anti-pub agenda of the health lobby and the home office.

15.00 - 15.50 Panel discussion: Lobbying for change - the industry's image problem Speaking with one voice and achieving results through effective political lobbying seem to be perennial issues for the sector. Some of its leaders come together to discuss the issues and consider what needs to change. Ralph Findlay, chief executive, Marston's Greg Feehely, head of research, Altium Securities Neil Robertson, chief executive, BII Miles Templeman, director general, Institute of Directors Ian Edward, director, Geronimo Inns

15.50 - 16.00 Chairman's closing remarks

16.00 - 17.00 Drinks reception

17.00 Conference close