Licensing International, The Light Fund Launch Coffee & Connect Series for Young Professionals

Licensing International’s UK Young Professionals Network (YPN), together with the U.K. charity foundation The Light Fund, is announcing a series of Coffee & Connect events. Set to be held over the next year, the series will focus on the theme “From Screen to Shelf.”

Kicking off on Aug. 1 at Paramount’s office in Camden, London, young licensing industry professionals will gain insights into the process of creating an animated series from LoveLove Films.

Future Coffee & Connect events will explore strategy, creative, manufacturing and retail.

“We are delighted to partner with the Light Fund on this new initiative,” says Steve Manners, head, global marketing and UK managing director, Licensing International. “I’ve been in the industry for over 30 years and really had no understanding of how a show is financed or the process a production company needs to go through and yet, over my career, I have worked on many animated shows. Similarly, we know the cost-of-living crises, inflation, and shipping costs have really affected licensees. But how? This is a chance to really delve into the realities that different players in the industry face and for our young industry professionals to gain a deeper understanding of every aspect of the licensing landscape.”

“The Light Fund is delighted to be partnering with the Young Professionals Network to offer a series of talks that center around learning and insight whilst also giving attendees the opportunity to connect with peers in a relaxed setting,” says Alex Salisbury, senior licensing manager, UK & EMEA toys, Paramount Consumer Products, committee member, The Light Fund. “Through the Coffee and Connect series, we seek to raise awareness of the work of The Light Fund and our supported charities. We hope to inspire newer members of the industry to support us throughout their careers – maybe even taking on a tough challenge, or two. Licensing International and the YPN Committee have been fantastic partners in bringing it all to life and we’re also extremely grateful to the folks at Pop Paper City for being our first guest speakers of the series.”

Spaces for the events are limited, tickets can be booked online and cost £20 per person for each event, with all proceeds going to The Light Fund to support charitable causes in the U.K.