Recruiting and retaining staff, growing your profit margins, and embracing technology are the leading topics in FutureScape’s Business Theatre this year. 

Visitors will be able to take away top tips from expert speakers that will enable them to develop and grow their companies and get ahead. 

On the first day of the show, on 13 October, accountant Kim Sones is opening the theatre by offering practical tips that can be implemented straight away to improve profitability. She will be followed by business coach Nick Ruddle, who will share how AI can help a business to thrive, having launched his own AI-powered system earlier this year. 

He’ll then host a panel with Sones, Bobyard’s Michael Ding, Wards Gardens’ Tim Ward, and Morada’s Steven Higginbottom, covering how choosing the right technology tools can be transformative for a business. 

The focus switches to people for the afternoon, when industry charity Perennial will be delivering a workshop in collaboration with MHFA England. Director of services Helen Waddington and head of preventative services Matt Knight will be helping those in the audience build confidence and resilience when navigating sensitive discussion. 

Following this, a panel featuring Plumpton College’s Dan Karlsson, the British Association of Landscape Industries’ head of skills, careers and certification Jonathan Pettit, Lantra’s Mandy Maynard, Elmtree Landscape’s managing director Paul Lynch and John Tallis, committee member for the Young People in Horticulture Association (YPHA), is exploring one of the industry’s biggest challenges: the skills shortage. They will be sharing their experiences and some outside-the-box thinking that could help draw in new talent. 

To close the first day, business consultant Neil Stead will be hosting a panel around scaling up your business. Panellists such as Olive Tree Landscaping’s Paul Jones, garden design studio owner Karen McClure and Wright Landscapes’ managing director Lee Webster will share what this means to them and how to identify the next step in your growth. 

Business coach Denise Quinlan kicks off the second day with insight into the client’s journey and what could be holding you back from converting enquiries. Garden designer Andy Stedman follows this up with strategies and systems for sustainable growth before joining a panel hosted by social media specialist Matthew Freestone on how to build a reputable brand online that attracts high-end clients. They will be joined by brand identity and web designer Dan Hoye, Bamboo Nine’s Lisa Seymour, and the British Association of Landscape Industries’ head of marketing & communications Rosie Sayers. 

Continuing the theme from his panel the day before, Stead returns to the Business Theatre with tips on how to build a better business rather than a bigger one, sharing a simple framework for success. 

Once again, the Business Theatre ends on the topic of people, focusing on retention. Staff are a business’ biggest cost but also their most valuable asset. Panellists including Blakedown Landscapes’ Nigel Payne and IPM Facilities’ Dave Taylor will discuss how to ensure teams feel happy and motivated – and ultimately loyal. 

The winners of Pro Landscaper’s Most Influential Technology Providers will also be collecting their awards on 14 October, nominations for which are still open. 

View the full seminar programme. 

In its fifteenth year, FutureScape will be taking place at a new venue, Farnborough International Exhibition & Conference Centre, on 13-14 October 2026. Register for your free ticket now.