Following a tough eventful few years, the UK’s food and drinks sector is going from strength to strength with developments in street food and markets, pop-up catering, hospitality and myriad innovative new product launches all contributing to our growing reputation as a nation of foodies. Many consumers have altered their food purchasing and dining out habits. However, despite these challenges ethical sourcing remains important: Nearly four in five food and drink shoppers intentionally choose products with a sustainability claim (Mintel – Sustainability in Food report 2023).

Whether you’ve got an idea for a new product or service that will shake-up the sector, or you’re already small business owner in the sector with ambitions to take a bigger piece of a profitable pie, don’t miss this opportunity to chat to our seasoned food sector experts.

This fun and informal event brings together a team of experts in the food, drink and hospitality sectors to provide insight, support and guidance on everything from funding to flavour, product to packaging and seasoning to sales! 

The atmosphere at our popular Speed Mentoring events is always informal, with plenty of opportunities for building connections, networking and sharing knowledge with your peers.

If you’re a food and hospitality business owner with an appetite for success, don’t miss this event.

Our expert mentors for this event comprise of:

Michael Murdoch

Michael founded The House branding and marketing agency in 2009 and has been a Brand Strategist for nearly 20 years working with emerging and established organisations around the world like NHS, MTV, Diabetes UK, Sanyo, Fairtrade and Nokia to smaller startups like Franklin Scholars, Mixcloud and Olive Branch. 

Michael has won awards for his work and helps clients find their full potential, taking them step-by-step through their projects in partnership with them. Graduating from courses at Central Saint Martins, UWE and Oxford University, Michael loves working with entrepreneurs and hopes to pass on his skills and expertise on to help them be the top 10% of organisations that succeed.

Vasken Jermakian

Foodication is a London-based consultancy providing support and training to restaurant and coffee bar start-ups. Foodication ensures the fundamentals are in place for the business to be quickly running in profit. Foodication was founded by Vasken Jermakian in 2013.

Having managed many new openings for the likes of Pizza Express and Starbucks in the UK and abroad, Vasken brings his knowledge of the efficiencies of these companies to the benefit of new entrepreneurs. His resume includes management positions with restaurants, quality assurance, advice to FoodTech and RestaurantTech start-ups and franchise development.

Ziaad Khan

Ziaad Khan is a Business & IP Centre Intellectual Property Information Expert. He presents the Centre’s series of intellectual property workshops. He has worked with a diverse range of businesses from all sectors, especially helping those who are at a start-up and growth level.

Will Davis

Will is an Information Specialist in the Business & IP Centre at the British Library. He currently supports businesses at start-up and growth stages in the centre.

Milly Gregory 

Milly is a business mentor and founder of The Dalston Studio Ltd – a company passionate about helping individuals, teams and small businesses develop and excel, offering business mentoring, consultancy, wellness and life coaching, psychotherapy and counselling.

She is passionate about empowering women in business. I have over 25 years’ experience running restaurants and bars and ran my own catering company until 2022. I am using my passion to help more women transition to senior leadership and help new leaders make that leap.

Olivia Howitt

Olivia Howitt, a Wellness Specialist. She combines therapeutic sound and energy healing, with conscious breathwork and guided meditation to support the whole being.
Motivated by experiences that shaped her journey, it is her mission to share the methods that helped unearth the true nature of my being and grow toward change and shape a new career path.

Her 1-2-1 sessions are a journey back to the self. She works with the power of intention and deep relaxation, to help individuals achieve their life goals.

Ryan Panchoo

Borough 22 is a black-owner gluten-free and vegan doughnuts Bakery based in London's 22nd Borough or Royal Greenwich. Founded in 2014 Ryan has been producing his award-winning oven-baked doughnuts across the UK as well as retailing in Selfridges and Co. Food Hall bakery and developing a cult following for his brand. In 2022, Ryan developed the holy grail of the free-from world; a yeast-raised fried doughnut that was completely free from the top 14 major allergens.

It has taken the free from the world by storm and has been endorsed by the likes of Ravneet Gill (Author and Junior GBBO Judge), Shelina Permalloo (Master Chef Winner, Restauranter and Author) and Phil Khoury (Head Pastry Chef Harrods) to name a few.