An inspiring international business speaker who is highly respected, Christian Majgaard challenges conventional thinking within strategy, branding, marketing and business innovation, using compelling examples from his own career.

Christian spent 25 years in LEGO management, first holding junior positions such as Head of International Market Research, growing to senior positions like Head of EU Marketing and Head of New Business Areas. He ultimately ended his career in LEGO heading Global Brand & Business Development, where he was responsible for branding, marketing and business innovation for both the core toy business and new business areas. On his way up, he also took some years out of LEGO, serving as a Senior Management Consultant with PA Consulting. 

During his time at LEGO, he and his teams pioneered successful innovations such as the first LEGOLAND® parks in the U.K., USA and Germany, the company’s first global approach to technology learning in schools, the lasting innovative alliance with LEGO and MIT in Boston, and the first LEGO robot series “Mindstorms®”.  They also  pioneered brand licensing alliances within the computer games and movie industries resulting in a.o. the world’s best selling children’s software and, lasting co-operations with the Star Wars, Harry Potter and Spiderman franchises. Christian underlines how much it meant to always have the owner family´s support and guiding vision, and the freedom to hire the right business unit leaders.   

Christian now applies his experience by speaking, serving on non-executive boards, inspiring young and old leaders and by co-funding start-ups.  

He has inspired corporations like Nestlé, Motorola, Swiss Re, Disneyland, Deloitte, Heineken, Abbvie, Merck, Johnson & Johnson, VELUX, DSV as well as government organisations, whilst also guest lecturing at business schools across the globe and at corporate leadership development programs. 

Co-funder of several successful start-ups (a.o. in robotics on his native home island in Denmark, now counts over 100 robotic companies) Christian is featured and acclaimed in the book by Dutch/British professors Trompenaars & Hampden-Turner as one of the “21 Leaders for the 21st Century”. 

Christian has also authored the small book “13 hints for tomorrow’s brand builders” as well as numerous articles, and has starred in both television and radio broadcasts as a problem solver and expert on both strategic business and branding issues.

Market leaders in the UK animal bedding market, Platts Agriculture Limited are a multi-award-winning family business that have been trading for over 50 years.

Caroline Platt; Managing Director of Platts Agriculture Limited will deliver ‘Platts A Legacy of Dynamic Leadership and Innovation’ a talk about how Platts, a 50-year-old third-generation family business, displays dynamic leadership that fosters continuous growth and innovation for future generations.   

With an annual turnover of circa £10 million Platts currently employs around 64 staff across 4 sites on Llay Industrial Estate. Their customers across the UK and Ireland range from family businesses to university research farms, mega-dairies and even the Royal Farms in Windsor.  

With a recognised commitment to sustainability and environmental management, the company is currently going through a sustained period of growth, alongside sister companies Platts Commercial Services and Platts Transport Limited. This has seen a factory expansion, property acquisition, the introduction of new technologies (encourage driving efficiencies and waste reduction for example), and investment into an all-electric fleet. 

Platts Agriculture are proud to have been Royal Warrant Holders since 2018, for their continuous supply of animal bedding to the Royal Household, and recognition for sustainable business practice.

Caroline's passion for sustainability has earned her recognition and praise from the Institute of Directors (IOD) in 2023. She is dedicated to implementing sustainable strategies within her own company and across the wider business community. 

Additionally, Caroline has recently been appointed as a business advisor to the Future Generations for Wales Advisory Panel, providing her with a great opportunity to contribute to the exercise of the Commissioner's functions under the Well-being of Future Generations (Wales) Act 2015. Her appointment as a business advisor showcases her expertise and commitment to shaping a sustainable and prosperous future for generations to come. 

Caroline's leadership extends beyond Platts Agriculture. She serves as a Board Director for FSB (Federation of Small Businesses) and chairs the Wrexham Leadership Alliance, where she plays a vital role in shaping the business landscape and fostering collaboration among senior leaders.

Helping families on a budget get more out of life, the Very Group are a family of digital retail brands across fashion, electrical, home, and more, and are the people behind Very; one of the largest digital retailers in the UK and Ireland. 

Lisa Bellis (People Partner) and Darren Gallop (Learning & Development Specialist), of the Very Groups Wrexham fulfilment and logistics site, will deliver a talk on establishing an excellent learning and development culture. 

Their presentation, provided in the form of a best-practice case study, will offer a fascinating and informative insight into how continuous development of knowledge and competence has been placed at the heart of the company. They will provide examples of the positive effect of creating this kind of work environment, an example of which is the Very Group winning the “Best Place to Work” Retail Week Award in 2022.   

The Very Groups fulfilment site in Wrexham is set in 62 acres of green space and is home to around 140 Very teammates who process more than 700,000 customer orders every year. 

Over the companies 100 year history customers’ shopping habits have changed, and so has the business, with a focus on three key areas: ease, choice and understanding. The company has consistently reinvented itself with the ambition of building the most trusted ecosystem for families offering all the brands, products, and services they want and need within a seamless digital experience. 

The Very Group have also prioritised the needs of their people and customers through embracing and investing in new ways of working, focusing on wellbeing and efforts to bring their workforce closer to their customers. 

The group have one of the richest and deepest customer data sets in the UK, via which they’re able to create personalised shopping and marketing experiences. 

With an annual revenue of £2.15 billion, 1.4 million daily website visits and 42 million items delivered annually; Very UK continue to outperform the wider online market and have grown its share.
 

The McCarthy Group has had roots in the logistics sector since 1950, hauling, storing and distributing palletised freight with an annual turnover of £8.5 million, employing around 70 staff on Wrexham Industrial Estate.  

Mike McCarthy; Managing Director of McCarthy Distribution Limited will deliver an inspirational, open, honest and pragmatic talk on his personal business journey. Far from easy, numerous challenges have been both faced and overcome, when growing what is now a highly successful business. 

As well as providing a fascinating insight into the development of the business, the presentation will look to instil a sense of belief, motivation and encouragement. Through dedication, determination and resilience, this real-world account will highlight, with examples, that difficult problems can be conquered and lessons can be learnt, whilst managing a growing and thriving business.  

Recognised by the British Retail Consortium Global Standards organisation as being one of the few companies to attain the BRCGS AA standard for 10 consecutive years.  On the 10th year this was upgraded to BRCGS AA+, the highest certification following the recently introduced unannounced audit process.  

Offering logistics and distribution solutions for businesses across the UK, McCarthy Distribution Limited are quality driven with honest values, and place a focus on:

• Delivering excellent standards of customer service 
• Innovative and forward thinking 
• Operating systematic business processes
• Continuous improvement across the organisation
• Streamlining procedures and work practices
• Maintaining an externally audited Quality Management System

In recent years the company has invested heavily, with this seeing: 

• The building of a £3 million pound purpose built headquarters and warehouse, more than doubling the company’s capacity.  Based on Wrexham Industrial Estate, the facility has one of the highest person operated forklift systems in the country 
• A £500,000 Investment in four new state-of-the-art VNA forklift trucks
• A £1 million extension was recently added to cater for increased demand
• A continuing to focus on the food and food packaging sectors the company is aiming to continue to invest in growth, and create new jobs in the Wrexham area

An integrated manufacturing and logistics organisation providing industry leading supply chain management solutions within the cable industry; Marlin Industries are market leaders in the low carbon manufacturing revolution, within the sector. With a zero landfill focus, in order to help protect the environment; the company has the ambition of becoming a carbon net zero organisation by 2030.

John Droog; CEO, Mel Whitley; Group HR & Compliance Manager and Karen Roberts; Purchasing Manager of Marlin Industries Limited will deliver a talk focusing on 3 key topics; employee wellbeing and engagement, the companies carbon net zero journey and improving balance sheet liquidity. 

The enlightening case study will provide inspiration by highlighting why Marlin Industries are passionate about operating in an environmentally friendly way, investments made and strategies implemented, challenges that have been faced, and the positive effects of the companies green endeavours and focus on employee wellbeing. 

As well as providing real world examples (which showcase the work of a Wrexham based company towards reducing and balancing their carbon footprint for instance), you should expect to gain encouragement, passion and motivation from the presentation in order to explore additional ways in which your business could also lessen its environmental impact, improve liquidity and create a committed and valued workforce.

With its head office in Wrexham, Marlin Industries Limited has been in operation as a private limited company for over 30 years. Growing from a start-up in 1991, the company now employ over 170 people across six UK sites, with annual revenues of circa £17 million.

With a firm commitment to sustainability, various cost effective strategies based on Reduce – Reuse – Recycle principles have been implemented, culminating in the company being able to offer a unique and complete service to the energy and telecommunications industries.

The company operate the UK’s largest ISO 9001 accredited Timber Drum Repair Facility providing refurbished drums made from wood, plywood or recycled cable waste.

JCB is an amazing British success story of innovation, ambition and sheer hard work. From small beginnings building agricultural tipping trailers in 1945, today, JCB is one of the top three manufacturers of construction equipment in the world - with 22 plants on four continents and more than 750 dealers around the world.

In Wrexham, JCB employ more than 600 people and manufacture gearboxes, axels and engine components; playing a huge part in sculpting the modern world. 

In just 75 years JCB have gone from one man in a garage in Uttoxeter to major global brand renowned for its pioneering spirit. The company attribute this growth to their people – a 16,500-strong worldwide force that makes up the JCB family. 

Achievements over the past 75 years have been considerable, but JCB believe in always looking ahead to the next development, the next level of success. The company is continuing to innovate and push the boundaries in research and development; in particular within the area of sustainability, where energy costs and emissions are becoming an increasingly important purchasing consideration. 

In 2007 the sales arm of JCB Transmissions Limited was honoured with its first Queen’s Award for Enterprise after overseas sales between 2003 and 2005 more than doubled in three years, with exports rising by 134%.

Over the years JCB Transmission apprentices have often scooped top honours in a number of prestigious awards ceremonies, underlining the company’s commitments to both nurturing and developing talent, and in this regard in November 2023 JCB Transmissions was presented with a Valued Partner Award by Careers Wales; winning in the category of Best Newcomer. This recognised Craig’s and the company's recent engagement and partnership with Careers Wales which has inspired many young people to pursue a career in construction, by participating in:

• Apprentice talks
• Mock interviews
• 'Choose your Future' events
• Employer networking
• Alumni talks