UK SCALE Symposium 2026
Hope not hype - Effective digitalisation for better supply chain solutions
Thursday 25 June 2026
Holywell Conference Centre, Loughborough University, Loughborough, England.
We are announcing our speaker line-up, with leading voices from industry, academia, and policy being added regularly.
Overview
Hosted by the UK SCALE Centre, part of the world-renowned MIT Global SCALE Network, the Symposium brings together leaders from industry, academia and policy to explore the future of supply chains and the transformative impact of digitalisation and AI.
Supply chains have evolved from the industrial to the digital revolution, with new technologies now advancing at unprecedented speed. Organisations face the challenge of embracing innovation to boost productivity, resilience and sustainability, or risk being left behind.
Building on the success of our inaugural 2024 event, the 2026 UK SCALE Symposium will deliver honest dialogue on AI, separating hype from real solutions, and providing practical insights to shape the next generation of supply chain excellence.
What to expect?
Hear from renowned thinkers and practitioners on digitalisation and AI in supply chains. Join interactive sessions to co-create strategies, explore opportunities and risks, and get answers to your most pressing questions.
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, you will:
- Gain insights into cutting-edge research and real-world innovations
- Take part in strategic conversations bridging industry, academia and policy
- Connect with leaders and innovators driving resilient, sustainable supply chains
- Contribute to shaping the future with the UK SCALE Centre at the heart of this ecosystem.
Programme
Time |
Description |
| 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 |
Networking Dinner
The Symposium will conclude with an exclusive networking dinner for members of our Supply Chain Futures Forum.
If you are interested in joining the Forum, please see further information.
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.
Speakers
Professor Jan Godsell
Dean of Loughborough Business School
Professor of Operations and Supply Chain Strategy
Professor Jan Godsell is Dean of Loughborough Business School and a Professor of Operations and Supply Chain Strategy with a long and influential career, which has been split between both industry and academia.
Professor Godsell has advised government and industry on supply chain strategy, and its relationship to industrial and business strategy. She has served on numerous advisory boards and is currently a member of the Made Smarter Expert Panel and Industrial Strategy Challenge Fund Advisory Group, alongside a role as Co-director of the ESRC funded InterAct Network.
Neil Ashworth
Independent Chair, Non-Executive Director and Advisor
We Are Fulfilment, Parcel2Go, 2San Global, NotLost, REAL Leaders
Neil Ashworth is an Independent Chair, Non-Executive Director and advisor with extensive senior leadership experience across logistics, retail, and supply chain organisations in both the public and private sectors.
He holds board and advisory roles with We Are Fulfilment, Parcel2Go, 2San Global, NotLost and REAL Leaders. Most recently, he led the UK Government’s National Covid-19 Testing Programme, overseeing the delivery of a large-scale national testing capability. Previously, he served as CEO of Collect+ and as Chief Commercial and Strategy Officer at Yodel, bringing digital retail thinking into the parcel delivery sector.
Dr Viktor Dörfler
Professor of AI Strategy, University of Strathclyde Business School
Dr Viktor Dörfler is Professor of AI Strategy at the University of Strathclyde Business School and an internationally recognised scholar, consultant, and speaker in artificial intelligence and human mastery. He also holds appointments as Research Professor at Corvinus University of Budapest and Visiting Professor at the University of Zagreb.
His research focuses on the relationship between AI and human expertise, including creativity, talent, and mastery at the highest levels of performance. Dr Dörfler has conducted in-depth research interviews with leading scientists, including Nobel Laureates, and brings extensive practical experience from designing and implementing AI systems. He is the author of What Every CEO Should Know About AI (Cambridge University Press).
UK SCALE Centre Symposium 2024
Watch the highlights from the 2024 UK SCALE Symposium to see what to expect at the June event.