The 2026 Lyreco UK & Ireland Convention broke records with more than 1,400 attendees and over 130 suppliers filling the exhibition floor. This year’s gathering was the biggest in the company’s history and a fitting way to mark 100 years of Lyreco Group. Under the banner of ‘Connected Energy’, the message was clear: when teams, partners and leadership align, energy flows.
The conference blended reflection with foresight as senior leaders looked back on 2025 before setting a confident course for the year ahead. The crowd also heard from Lyreco Group COO Gabriel Mops and Lyreco Intersafe SBU CEO Joris Wels, who provided a broader view of the Group’s performance.
Next-level momentum
On stage, attendees heard talks from High Performance’s Jake Humphrey and Professor Damian Hughes, futurist Rishad Tobaccowala and F1 strategist Ruth Buscombe. Each session explored varying themes on the interplay between performance and wellbeing – reinforcing the notion that sustainable success is as much about culture and mindset as it is about targets.
AI took centre stage in a candid panel discussion hosted by Humphrey, who was joined by Lyreco UK & Ireland Managing Director Michael Milward and People & Culture Director Asmana Iftakhar, alongside Wels, Mops and Tobaccowala. The conversation tackled not just adoption, but impact – how AI will shape decision-making, roles and relationships across the workplace.
The busy and buzzing supplier exhibition closed with a show-stopping performance from dance group Diversity, before the energy carried seamlessly into the evening. 1920s-themed group Gatsby Band – a nod to Lyreco’s centenary – set the tone, followed by a sharp-witted stand-up set from Iain Stirling. The evening continued with a live set from indie rock band Kaiser Chiefs, before DJ Chris Watson rounded off the night.
