Worksummit 2025: the rise of freelance talent

Agenda for the day

hosted by
Morning
Fireside chat
How Fortune 1000's Are Operating: Solving the talent problem

Top companies are ditching outdated hiring models and getting smarter about talent. Hear how leading enterprises are solving workforce challenges with flexible strategies that actually work — and what you can steal for your own playbook.


Speakers
Bruce Morton
Bruce Morton Consulting
Sam Smith
Pontoon
Simon Bradberry
Allegis Global Solutions
Panel
Hire Great Talent, Keep Great Skills On-Demand

A strong freelance strategy goes beyond hiring—it’s about building a brand that freelancers want to return to.
Learn how to access top talent, keep them engaged, and create a cycle of success.


Speakers
Hung Lee
Recruiting Brainfood
Jo Libby
R/GA
Imer Cakiroglu
Stride
Mark Chaffey
Hackajob
Panel
Move Fast Without Breaking Things - Compliance in the UK

Staying compliant while scaling your workforce is no easy feat. Get expert advice on managing IR35 and engaging talent compliantly, the future of liability shifts and umbrella companies, and why outsourcing compliance is the smartest way to reduce risk.


Speakers
Sam Orrin
Worksome
Fiona Coombe
SIA
Rebecca Seeley Harris
Re Legal Consulting Ltd
Matt Burt
Vayner Media
Caroline Jones
Panel
Freelance Talent Operations in Today's Reality

What does it take to successfully implement and scale a freelance talent program? Hear from People, TA and Ops leaders as they share real-world strategies for designing, launching, and managing freelance operations, plus how a well-structured program can drive efficiency, reduce risk, and increase workforce agility.


Speakers
Russ Endacott
Publicis Groupe
Mehmet Aslan
Oliver
Morten Petersen
Worksome
Afternoon
Breakout panel
Entertain or Die: Building Brands in the Age of the New Freelance Creatives

In an era where traditional marketing channels are losing efficacy, brands are turning to the new creative class; freelance content creators, digital storytellers, and cultural innovators to craft authentic narratives and engage audiences meaningfully. This panel brings together forward-thinking brand leaders who are reimagining their marketing strategies.


Speakers
Dan Salkey
Small World
Erica Lowe
Oatly
Kaio Grizzelle
Channel 4
Sam Matanle
Batch LDN
Workshop
Building a Business Case for a Flexible Talent Strategy

Getting a flexible talent strategy off the ground takes more than just leadership buy-in—it takes support from across the business. This session shows you how to connect the dots between talent management and real business value, so you can build a case that lands with finance, legal, marketing, and beyond.


Speakers
Matt Mottola
Human Cloud
Roundtables
hosted by:

Jack Bonehill
PKF Smith Cooper
Jo Matkin
TALiNT
Vanessa Barnett
Keystone Law
Matthew Knight
Freelancing.Support