UK SCALE Symposium 2025
Hope not hype - Effective digitalisation for better supply chain solutions
Thursday 6 November 2025
Holywell Conference Centre, Loughborough University, Loughborough, England.
Our speaker line-up will be announced soon - expect leading voices from industry, academia, and policy.
Overview
Hosted by the UK SCALE Centre, part of the world-renowned MIT Global SCALE Network, the Symposium will bring together leaders from industry, academia, and policy to explore the evolving landscape of supply chains and the transformative impact of digitalisation and AI.
From the industrial revolution to the digital revolution, supply chains have seen huge shifts in productivity and resilience as a result of the introduction of new technologies. But where progress was once a relatively slow and steady process, we now live in an age of accelerating innovation. New digital technologies are advancing at an unprecedented pace, asking supply chain-oriented organisations to rise to the challenge of implementation or risk being left behind.
The rapid growth of AI solutions offers huge potential benefits for businesses, but it can often feel like the wild west out there, with technology providers promising miraculous solutions to every problem. How can you sort the snake oil from the truly game-changing innovations? How do you sift fact from fiction? We’ve got you covered.
This year, we are building on the success of our inaugural 2024 event, which assembled leaders from across industry to tackle challenges ranging from developing resilience and fostering talent to the importance of sustainability. The 2025 UK SCALE Symposium will focus on pushing forward our collective understanding of digitalisation and honest dialogue around technology like AI. We’re not here to sell you solutions, we’re here to help you determine the best steps for your business.
What does the SCALE Symposium offer?
You’ll hear from renowned supply chain thinkers and practitioners as they chart a way forward for the sector, giving you the essential insights you need to tackle digitalisation with confidence. You will also have the chance to engage in interactive sessions, co-creating strategic visions and getting answers to your most urgent questions around AI.
Through discussion sessions, participants will explore the future of supply chains in a digital-first world. Attendees will be able to consider the opportunities, risks, and collaborative pathways that will define the next generation of supply chain excellence.
Why attend?
By attending the UK SCALE Symposium, you will join likeminded experts from around the world and play an essential role in shaping the direction of supply chain innovation. Over the course of the day, we will:
- Illuminate cutting-edge research and real-world innovations driving the digital transformation of supply chains
- Foster strategic conversations that bridge industry, academia, and policy, enabling collective foresight to navigate an increasingly complex and uncertain future
- Cultivate meaningful connections among leaders and innovators committed to creating resilient, sustainable, and intelligent supply chains
- Highlight the pivotal role of the UK SCALE Centre as a hub for shaping a collaborative ecosystem, where digital technologies and human expertise combine to redefine supply chain excellence
Programme
| 09.30 |
Arrival, registration and refreshments |
| 10.00 |
The Digital Future of Supply ChainsHear from leading voices as they explore the Centre’s vision and the digital future of supply chains, addressing the challenges and opportunities shaping businesses regionally, nationally, and globally. |
| 11.00 |
Refreshment break |
| 11.20 |
AI and Digitalisation in Action: Building Smarter Supply ChainsExplore how AI and digitalisation are transforming supply chains, driving sustainability, resilience, and productivity, as leading experts share insights and real-world strategies.
|
| 13.15 |
Networking lunch |
| 14.00 |
Workshop – Shaping Digitally-Integrated Supply ChainsStep into the role of innovator as you share your insights and experiences. This interactive session invites you to explore how digitalisation and AI can transform supply chains, enhancing resilience, productivity, and sustainability, while helping shape the UK SCALE roadmap for the future of supply chains. Led by Professor of Operations and Supply Chain Strategy, Jan Godsell. |
| 15.30 |
Refreshment break |
| 15.50 |
Panel Debate – How Will AI Influence the Supply Chains of the Future?This interactive session invites attendees to challenge our expert panellists with the critical questions shaped during their workshop session. Hear from experts at the cutting-edge of AI and supply chain innovation as they discuss the impact of one of the most hotly-contested recent technological developments. |
| 17.00 |
Closing remarks, and how to engage with the SCALE Centre |
| 17.30 |
Event close |
Individual tickets are priced at £150 per person for non-members and £120 per person for members of the UK SCALE Network. Group bookings for a full table of 10 people are available at a reduced cost of £100 per person.
Don’t miss out on the chance to put your business at the forefront of supply chain development and AI-driven innovation - secure your place whilst tickets last.
Become a member of the UK SCALE Network
You can become a member of the UK SCALE Network to stay connected and be among the first to hear about the latest Centre developments.
You can also find out more about our Supply Chain Futures initiative at the Symposium - an industry collaboration forum designed to build long-term, meaningful partnerships with regional and national stakeholders.
UK SCALE Centre Symposium 2024
Watch the highlights from last year’s UK SCALE Symposium to see what to expect at this year’s event in November.