Top names in TV, fashion, culture and retail showcase best of UK creativity at international Event

One of the world’s most iconic television characters, Top Gear’s The Stig, joined CEOs, founders, entrepreneurs and decision makers at today’s GREAT Festival of Innovation in Hong Kong on a day looking at how consumers interact with brands.

Racing driver The Stig made an appearance – arriving in a Jaguar F-type alongside Michelin starred-chef Andrew Wong – ahead of a world exclusive screening of a yet-to-be broadcast episode of the critically acclaimed 25^th series of the popular BBC programme. Top Gear is one of the UK’s most successful ever TV exports and is the world’s biggest motoring entertainment show, sold to 241 territories.

Secretary of State for Wales, Alun Cairns MP opened the third day of the Festival setting the scene for creativity, collaboration and enhanced trade.

He told the audience: “At every turn I am seeing British and Asian visionaries forging new links and strengthening existing relationships, businesses enthusiastic to show that they are capable, cutting edge and confident to embrace global markets. And innovators making the connections that will put them in pole position to benefit from the opportunities our respective markets provide.

“The GREAT Festival of Innovation is a meeting of brilliant minds and I am very much looking forward to seeing businesses reap the benefits of the valuable relationships that they will forge here.”

WPP Founder and CEO Sir Martin Sorrell, founder and chairman of the Sanpower Group Yuan Yafei and the Department for International Trade Permanent Secretary Antonia Romeo, looked at Forces Shaping the Future and the battle of control for the brand and consumer relationship. Sorrell also picked up on the importance of the link between government and business, especially when raising the profile of a country through its commercial activities. 

Among top names who leant their expertise and shared insights on disruption in the retail sector at the Festival are former Aspreys chief executive and chairman of London Craft Week Guy Salter; Sabrina Fung of Hong Kong fashion group Li & Fung, which owns quintessential British brands Gieves & Hawkes and Hardy Amies; Ewan Venters, CEO of Fortnum and Mason; and Roksanda Illincic, the name behind up-and-coming London fashion house Roksanda. 

Looking at how technology is evolving the retail experience, Sabrina Fung said:

“AI will be like electricity in the future. It will be everywhere and hard to live without.”

A session looking at the Past, Present and Future of Storytelling saw VICE Media’s Tom Punch address how youth media is becoming a dominant force, whilst actor, director, writer and broadcaster Kwame Kwei-Armah of the Old Vic theatre looked at the Art of Storytelling.

Both speakers also delivered an absorbing panel on Tomorrow’s Creators, where they were joined by Tea Uglow of Google to look at how creatives can forge their future. Representatives from iconic UK museums the V&A and the Science Museum led a discussion on the soft power of museums and cultural institutions and creating a creative world.

Luminaries from the world of sport, including Culture Minister Lord Ashton of Hyde, Eiji Uda, Chester King and Andrew Markham discussed the future of sport, including esports and how countries can build sustainable sporting brands, in The Future of Sport and Sports Brands.

A full cultural programme included the De Montfort University Leicester’s final year fashion students showcase their collections, a performance from British electronic music duo Honne, and a look to the future of 360° digital experiences and video using both augmented reality and virtual reality from Awethentic Studio.

For more information, please visit great.gov.uk/innovation or follow the hashtag #GREATinnovation.