Worksummit 2025: the rise of freelance talent

Agenda for the day

hosted by
Morning
8:30 AM
Breakfast & Networking
Doors Open at 8:30 AM
Breakfast & networking

Start your day with a hot cup of coffee and great company! Join us bright and early for breakfast and networking before the sessions kick off. Fuel up, connect, and get ready to dive in!

9:15 - 9:25 AM
Opening
9:15 - 9:25 AM
Welcome to workSummit 2025

Get ready for a day of insights, ideas and connections—WorkSummit 2025 starts here.


Speakers
Morten Petersen
Worksome
Georgie Barrat
9:25 - 9:50 AM
Keynote
9:25 - 9:50 AM
The Rise of the Freelance Era: How Work Got Redefined

Gone are the days of the traditional 9-to-5. In this keynote, we’ll uncover the rise of freelance talent, exploring how their adaptability, specialised skills, and unique viewpoints are driving innovation and growth across industries.


Speakers
Christine Armstrong
9:50-10:30 AM
Fireside chat
9:50-10:30 AM
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Top companies are ditching outdated hiring models and getting smarter about talent.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
David Gettins
Impellam UK & Europe
10:50-11:20 AM
Panel
10:50-11:20 AM
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
11:25- 12:00 PM
Panel
11:25-12:00 AM
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
Colin McDonagh
Worksome
Fiona Coombe
SIA
Rebecca Seeley Harris
Re Legal Consulting Ltd
Matt Burt
Vayner Media
Caroline Jones
12:00-12:50 PM
Lunch
12:00 – 12:50 PM
Lunch break

Take a break, recharge, and enjoy lunch with fellow attendees. While you're at it, swing by the Worksome booth to see if you can hire and onboard a freelancer faster than ordering an Uber. Challenge accepted?

Afternoon
1:00 - 1:30PM
FIRESIDE CHAT
1:00-1:30 pm
Humans Hiring Humans: World Class Recruiting the Oatly Way

Go inside Oatly’s distinctively human approach to hiring with Sophie Worth, Global Talent Director. From brand love to purpose-driven culture, learn how Oatly attracts top talent through authenticity, values, and a voice that actually sounds like a person.


Speakers
Sophie Worth
Oatly
Sam Orrin
Worksome
1:30-2:00PM
Panel
1:30-2:00 PM
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
Erika Novak
Worksome
Breakout Sessions
2:15-2:50 pm & 3:00-3:35 pm
Breakout panel
2:15 - 2:50 pm & 3:00 - 3:35 pm
Location
Garden Room
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
Kaio Grizzelle
Channel 4
Sam Matanle
Batch LDN
2:15-2:50 pm & 3:00-3:35 pm
Workshop
2:15 - 2:50 pm & 3:00 - 3:35 pm
Location
Terrace Gallery
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
2:15-2:50 pm & 3:00-3:35 pm
Roundtable
Location
ELLIPSE HALL
Tax Compliance - Creating Policy to Accommodate Independent Workers
Hosted By:
Jack Bonehill
PKF Smith Cooper
Roundtable
Location
ELLIPSE HALL
Creating an AI-Friendly Environment, with Minimal Compliance Headaches
Hosted By:
Vanessa Barnett
Keystone Law
Roundtable
Location
ELLIPSE HALL
Future-proof or Falling Behind? Workforce trends for enterprise talent leaders
Hosted By:
Jo Matkin
TALiNT
Roundtable
Location
ELLIPSE HALL
Universal Workforce Model & The Deconstruction of Work
Hosted By:
Bruce Morton
Bruce Morton Consulting
Roundtable
Location
ELLIPSE HALL
Finding New Talent in New Ways: Sourcing Tactics Fit for 2025
Hosted By:
Sune Nielsen
Worksome
Mathias Linnemann
Worksome
Roundtable
Location
ELLIPSE HALL
Creating a Unified Talent Experience: Freelancers, Contractors, EOR and SOW — One Contingent Talent Ecosystem
Hosted By:
Robert van der Sloot
Papaya Global
Roundtable
Location
ELLIPSE HALL
Harnessing the Power of a Blended Workforce
Hosted By:
Ben De Wulf
Impellam Group
3:45-6:00 pm
Drinks
3:45-6:00 pm
Networking Drinks Sponsored by Papaya Global

Wrap up an inspiring day at WorkSummit with refreshments and good conversation, sponsored by Papaya Global.
Come for the drinks, stay for the connections!