Brand Licensing Europe 2024 Content Agenda Announced

Ben Roberts, content director, License Global, presenting his State of the Nation session at BLE 2023

The full agenda for this year’s Brand Licensing Europe (BLE) has been announced, featuring educational sessions on museum and heritage brand licensing, sustainability, a focus on European variations and opportunity, resilience and career advice. 

This year’s expert speakers hail from an array of licensing disciplines and categories as well as wider business, with representatives from Xbox, Crafters Companion, Primark, MoMA, The Met, STUDIOCANAL, The LEGO Group, The Walt Disney Company, Jazwares, Sanderson Design, Paramount UK and many more.  

Visitors and exhibitors to BLE can now begin to fully plan their itineraries, with three weeks still to go. BLE is Europe’s leading event for licensing and brand extension and takes place Sept. 24-26 at ExCeL London. 

“This year’s agenda includes a free, inclusive three-day conference program, valuable networking opportunities and lots of fun ‘not-to-be-missed’ events – all great complements to the thousands of pre-planned and spontaneous, business-critical meetings taking place on the show floor,” says Ella Haynes, event director, Brand Licensing Europe. “We are now less than three weeks until show time – over 2,220 meetings have already been arranged online between brands, retailers and manufacturers, so time is ticking, and I urge everyone to make the most of the BLE Event Planner to find the right brands, people and businesses to book meetings with, and get those schedules filled to avoid disappointment.” 

Related:Xbox to Present Brand Licensing Europe Opening Day Keynote

Newly Announced Content

Several sessions have been announced this week, including “The Art of Museum Licensing,” where attendees can learn about the current museum and heritage licensing landscape. Taking place on Sept. 25, the session features speakers from The Met, MoMA, the Natural History Museum and Van Gogh Museum.

Later that afternoon, STUDIOCANAL will unveil its ambitious global vision for the Paddington IP, and attendees will be able to discover the distinct characteristics of the industry on the European mainland.

Those looking to futureproof their brand can learn about “Gaming’s Role in Shaping Tomorrow’s IP Landscape,” from The Insights Family and, rounding out the day, the focus will be on sustainability, looking at “How the Industry is Adapting to New Demands” with Bravado, Difuzed, Paramount UK, The Walt Disney Company and The LEGO Group.

On Sept. 26, BLE’s “Day of Purpose,” attendees can learn about unlocking careers in licensing, with advice from Jazwares, WildBrain CPLG and Dreamtex, followed by a powerful session exploring the critical role of resilience in the licensing industry, entitled “Is Resilience Key to Navigating Industry Change”’ 

Related:Sara Davies Confirmed as Keynote for Brand Licensing Europe 2024

Brand Licensing Europe 2024 Content Agenda

All sessions take place in the License Global Theatre, unless otherwise stated. 

Tuesday, Sept. 24

9:45-10 a.m.: Navigating the Brand Licensing Europe Show Floor 
Speakers: Ella Haynes, event director, BLE, and Lily Drennan, event manager, BLE  

10-10:45 a.m.: Licensing 101  

Speaker: Steve Manners, head of global marketing and U.K. managing director, Licensing International 

10:45-11 a.m.:  Show floor tour with members of the BLE team  

11-11:15 a.m.:  State of the Nation  
Speaker: Ben Roberts, content director, License Global

11:30 a.m.-Noon: The Future of Retail: Elevating Customer Experience Through Immersive Retail
Speakers:  

11:30 a.m.-Noon: The BLE character parade  

Look out for the show floor tiles highlighting this year’s new route for hi-fives, selfies and cuddles.  

12:30-1 p.m.:  Keynote 1: When Everyone Plays, We All Win: Next-Level Consumer Products & Licensing with Xbox with John Friend, head, gaming consumer products, Xbox

Read more about this session, “When Everyone Plays, We All Win,” here.

Moderator: Ben Roberts, content director, License Global

1:45-2:15 p.m.:  How to Build a Lifestyle Brand 
Speakers:  

Moderator: Ian Hart, senior digital editor, License Global 

2:30-3 p.m.: A Quarter of a Century as a Brand Licensing Lawyer – What I’ve Learned 
Speaker: John Burns, partner, head of brands, JMW Solicitors  

3:15-3:45 p.m.: Futureproof Your Brand: Gaming’s Role in Shaping Tomorrow’s IP Landscape 

Explore how technology and distribution platforms are reshaping IP choices. 

Speaker: Adam Woodgate, vice president, research solutions, The Insights Family  

4-4:20 p.m.: Unlock your Brand’s Potential at BLE  
Speakers:  

5-7 p.m.: Brand Licensing Europe’s 25th Birthday Party: BLE Birthday Bar and BLE x One Piece Bar 2024

Wednesday, Sept. 25

9:30-10 a.m.: The Trends to Watch in 2025

Speaker: Elizabeth Foster, vice president, content and communications, Licensing International 

10:15-10:45 a.m.: Licensing 101 

Speaker: Susan Bolsover, managing director, founder, Lightbulb Licensing 

11:00-11:30 a.m.: Innovating Fashion: The Future of Adaptive Clothing in Licensing 
Speakers:  

11:30-Noon: The famous BLE character parade returns for the second day

11:45-12:15 p.m.: The Art of Museum Licensing 

Learn about the current museum and heritage licensing landscape, examine case studies of recent success stories, and gain key insights into the trends driving consumer behavior into 2025 and beyond. 

Speakers:  

Moderator: Esther Jolley, director, brand extension, Stobbs 

12:30-1:15 p.m.: Keynote 2: Crafty Licensing: Transforming a Business through Brand Licensing  

Speaker: Sara Davis, founder, director, Crafters Companion 

Read more about this session, “Transforming a Business through Brand Licensing” here.

Moderator: Ian Hart, senior digital editor, License Global 

2-2:30 p.m.: Turning a Heritage Brand into a Global Phenomenon 

Join STUDIOCANAL as the company unveils its ambitious global vision for the beloved Paddington IP. This exclusive session will explore the ongoing journey of Paddington from a classic character to a worldwide cultural phenomenon ahead of the highly anticipated November release of the third blockbuster film, “Paddington in Peru.” 

Speakers: 

3-3:30 p.m.: Doing Licensing in Europe. The Distinct Characteristics of the Industry on the European Mainland 

A comparative analysis of players in the licensing industry chain, focusing on the distinctive features, attributes and prospects for business growth in the market from the standpoint of European companies.  

Speakers: 

Moderator: Cristina Angelucci, editor-in-chief, Licensing Magazine 

4-4:45 p.m.: Mapping a Sustainable Pathway: How the Industry is Adapting to New Demands 

Speakers: 

Moderator: Helena Mansell-Stopher, chief executive officer, Products of Change 

The following two events are for retail badge holders only, and take place in the Retail Lounge E141.

3-4 p.m.: Retail Mentoring Programme 2025 drop in session 

4-5 p.m.: Retail Happy Hour partnership with Care Bears  

Thursday, Sept. 26

10-10:30 a.m.:  Unlocking Careers in Licensing: Advice and Opportunities 

Speakers: 

Moderator Steve Manners, head of global marketing and U.K. managing director, Licensing International

11-11:30 a.m.: What Makes a Sustainable and Ethical Brand in 2024? 

Speaker: William Sankey, director, The GOOD Shopping Guide. 

Noon-12:30 p.m.: Is Resilience Key to Navigating Industry Change? 

Join us at “The Day of Purpose” for a powerful session exploring the critical role of resilience in the licensing industry. 

Speakers: 

 Host: Helen Lynch, retail brand licensing consultant and coach.

It’s free to visit Brand Licensing Europe – simply register on the website, and get access to the online Event Planner and start planning your itinerary.