This flagship event offers a space to learn, connect, and grow alongside peers who share your drive to thrive in the Liverpool City Region.
Spend a day surrounded by inspiring speakers, honest career insight, and hands-on workshops, all focused on supporting your progression, strengthening your professional identity, and helping you take the next step in your journey.
Date of Event: 16 April 2026
Venue: Spaces at The Spine, Paddington Village, L7 3FA
Conference Programme
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08:30 – 09:00
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Registration & Refreshments Arrive, grab a coffee, and begin building your network with fellow early-career colleagues and professionals facing the same challenges and opportunities as you. |
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09:00 – 09:10
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Welcome Address Professor Tim Jones, Vice-Chancellor, University of Liverpool An opening welcome to set the tone for the day, highlighting the importance of emerging talent in shaping the future of the Liverpool City Region and the role of collaboration between graduates, employers, and the wider community. |
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09:10 – 09:30
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Opening Address Steve Rotheram, Metro Mayor, Liverpool City Region A regional vision for talent and opportunity, and why your generation plays a vital role in the future of the Liverpool City Region. |
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09:30 – 10:00
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Opening Keynote Speaker: Confidence is a Career Skill Paul Corcoran, Founder & CEO of Agent Confidence isn’t something you either “have” or “don’t have” it's something you can build. This powerful opening keynote explores how confidence shapes progression, influence and opportunity, and gives you practical ways to start strengthening it straight away. |
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10:15 – 11:15 |
Workshop Session 1 – Choose One Cracking the Code: Navigating Unwritten Rules & Building Influence Ben Arguile, CEO of Arguile Learn how to read the room, understand workplace dynamics, and build credibility early in your career. Discover the subtle behaviours that accelerate progression, and how to develop influence without pretending to be someone you’re not. OR Finding Your Strengths: Building Confidence from the Inside Out Isobelle Panton, Commercial Lead at The Overlap Take a fresh look at your strengths and how you talk about them. Build tools to manage self-doubt, improve your internal narrative, and create a practical “brag file” to track your achievements. You’ll leave with actions to strengthen your confidence long-term. |
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11:30 – 12:30 |
Employer Panel - What I Wish Graduates Knew An honest conversation with employers from across the region exploring what really stands out in early-career professionals, the traits that fast-track progression, the common myths about workplace success, and the realities of performance, feedback and growth. |
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12:30 - 13:30 |
Networking Lunch Connect with employers, speakers and fellow graduates in an informal setting. Build relationships beyond your own organisation and expand your city-region network. |
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13:45 – 14:45 |
Workshop Session 2 – Choose One Career GPS: Designing a Future That Doesn’t Yet Exist Carmel Dickinson, Founder of Worthy The role you’ll thrive in might not even exist yet. This session will help you explore possibilities, experiment with direction, and approach your career with curiosity rather than pressure. OR Networking with Purpose: Building Influence Early in Your Career Leon McCowan, Director of Your Business Mobile Build the confidence to start meaningful professional conversations and grow a network that supports your progression. Learn practical ways to build relationships, influence without authority, and make networking feel more natural. |
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15:00 – 16:00 |
Final Keynote – Turning Challenge into Opportunity Calvin Eden, CEO of Loud Speaker & Speak Easy An inspiring closing keynote. Expect honest insights, real challenges, and a motivating reminder of what’s possible when you back yourself. |
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16:00 – 16:15 |
Closing Reflections Key takeaways from the day to help you build momentum beyond the conference. |
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16:15 – 17:30 |
Networking Drinks Celebrate the day, deepen connections, and continue conversations with peers and employers across the region. |
Last few places to book - only £45 - don't miss out!
Click here to book your place.
All enquiries to gregory.hunter@liverpool.ac.uk.
Back to: Careers and Employability

