One week on from our biggest Evolution yet. Our feet are somewhat on the mend, our coffees remain strong, and our smiles are still huge as we begin our movement into post-Evo normality…
The main stage was full to the brim with industry speakers, panels, fireside chats, tech demos, keynotes, and even an exciting release from us (keep your eyes peeled for more on that!). Evolution continued to fuse like-minded individuals with brilliant insights from industry leaders while allowing them to network with peers. And as usual, we did it the Verve way—and had the best time!
This year we welcomed Jake Humphrey and Damian Hughes from the High Performance Podcast as our keynote speakers. And what a keynote it was. They both dived into the mindset needed for a high-performance approach, in work and life, recounting the conversations and learnings they’ve taken from prolific guest conversations.
They left our audience with 5 key takeaways…
Feedback for the duo has been resoundingly positive – the highest-rated keynote of all of our previous guests – so we’re not quite sure how, or who will top future years. If you have any suggestions on names you want to see or people you’ve previously seen and loved, drop us an email.
One of the biggest talking points this year was our wellbeing activities – a new, and welcome, addition to this year’s event. We’re champions of self-care – in work and in life – and so it was important to us that we created a conference environment that provided the kind of balance we’d expect from a day in the office. From puppy therapy (with our friends at Paws In Work) who offered 30-minute sessions for delegates to release the endorphins of a litter of playful toy poodle pups bring, to inviting (more of our friends at) Corporate Personal Wellbeing to offer massages, trigger therapy and posture advice.
To inject a little competition into the day, delegates enjoyed cycling their smoothie and seeing if their peddle power was enough to place them at the top of the leaderboard. There was also a fund selection competition throughout the day and also a chance to cash in their fun money they collected from exhibitors for the casino tables during the Awards Drinks Reception.
We asked a few of the team who were involved with the day what they thought about the day, here’s what they had to say…
“The spirit of collaboration between Verve and our audience was there from the outset, highlighting the strong connection and shared vision for the future. The conference epitomised everything that is brilliant with Verve and underscored the energy, diversity and inclusivity that sits within the business and how we work with some of the amazing clients. It’s testament to the incredible growth of the company too for the extraordinary growth in attendees in the last few years.
With a focus on quality, rather than quantity, the event offered a wide range of sessions and activities, catering to various needs of the audience. Equally, for me, it was a perfect opportunity to express our gratitude to our loyal users, while warmly welcoming prospective clients.” – Darren Lowry, Chief Commercial Officer
“I found the whole day to be incredible. The buzzing atmosphere, the smiling faces – it was just a fabulous day and it’s always a relief to see a year’s worth of work come together.” – Jas Nattrass, Events and Partnerships Lead
“It was such an amazing event for so many reasons. Amazing location, seeing all the exhibition stands constantly busy and great speakers on a range of subjects that were both topical and inspiring. It was great to see many friendly faces too – existing clients and first timers.” – Paul Sylvester-Evans, Training Manager
“From the panels with industry experts, the keynote with Damian & Jake, to the puppy therapy (which was adorable!) – no matter which sessions the delegates attended, there were so many insights to take away from each one which created such a buzz. A personal highlight would have to be seeing our event brand transformed and brought to life from concept to large scale across the venue.” – Laura Pearson, Design Lead
Each year, Evolution also marks our annual Verve Awards and this year was no exception. With new categories introduced this year, our awards are an opportunity to shout about the best practice and incredible work within the financial services. It’s a no-pay-to-play for our awards, so it meant all finalists got to be in the room and see their names on the big screen and put their hands together for the winners crowned on the night.
Best Client Outcomes: 8 Financial Planning
Best Marketing Campaign: Melo
Innovator of the Year: Jonathan Newell (Barerock)
Rising Star of the Year: Abi Robinson (The Yardstick Agency)
Entrepreneur of the Year: Neil Moles (Progeny)
The Verve Award: Sam Secomb (Women’s Wealth)
Preparations for next year have already begun – standing still is going backwards after all – and we cannot wait to bring you #VerveEvolution25! We’ll keep you posted…
