The UK Advantage in Innovation

• Overview of current trends in the UK Industry

• Addressing system wide issues around governance and education

• Innovations shaping the future of food production

Sponsored by:

TraceGains will be joined by Ashbury Global to unpack the regulatory changes that matter most in 2026 and beyond, and what “audit-ready” requires in practice. TraceGains will share how connected digital ecosystems link supplier, specification and product information into a single, defensible workflow - reducing risk without slowing innovation.

Key Takeaways:

• The biggest regulatory pressure points for 2026+ and what to prioritise now
• Creating one auditable workflow linking supplier, regulatory, and product data
• How to cut rework and cycle time with clearer handoffs and stronger governance
• Setting the stage for practical applications of AI
  

This session will address how operational excellence moves forward, through digitalisation and preparing teams with the skills to work alongside smart technology & AI:

• Strategies for managing rising costs without compromising quality

• Navigating compliance requirements

• Using data and automation to address these challenges

• Sustainability as an emerging trend in Opex

• Smart tech and the future of the factory floor

Topics Including:

• Daily Management Systems That Protect Quality and Output

    - This roundtable shares practical daily systems that reduce chaos and create stability

• Scaling Digital Initiatives: Moving Beyond Pilot Projects to Enterprise Adoption

     - From leadership commitment, what elements must be put in place, to defining and tracking success.

• Cost & Margin Pressures: Doing More With Less

     -This discussion is a chance to exchange ideas on managing cost and margin pressures this year

• Upcoming regulations to be aware of

• Compliance with both UK and EU law

• Regulatory divergence and its effect on exports/imports

• Adapting to new trade relationships

Topics including:

• Sustainability as a Value Proposition

    - This discussion is a chance to explore how sustainability can unlock commercial advantage, support growth, and strengthen your position with customers and partners

• Automation That Delivers: What’s Working, What’s Not, and What’s Next

    -This roundtable is a chance to openly compare where automation is genuinely delivering value, where it’s still falling short, and what concerns or considerations are shaping your next investment decisions

Organisations are undergoing constant changes due to society’s high level of demand. Customers no longer accept a product or service with a medium level of quality delivered to them, and low quality has consequences and penalties that impact the organisations profitability and reputation. To be part of the dynamic “game” of global competitiveness, it is necessary that organisations are conditioned to win. Being well positioned and based on Excellence allows organisations to be increasingly competitive and profitable – we share our lessons on transformational, sustainable change and turning experience into continued excellence. Including Six Key Lessons for sustainable & transformational change:

• A Clear Why for Excellence
• Balancing global vs local ownership
• Zero Loss Mindset
• Building Excellence
• Commit to one plan
• Recognise progress
  

• Climate change and geopolitical risks

• Traceability and visibility in procurement

• Collaboration across the value chain

• Future-proofing operations

• Creating a resilient and sustainable food system in the UK

Funding, Regional Support, and Opportunities you Might be Missing