There are a few things you can count on at this time of year. Summer is winding down, everyone is wondering where the last few months went, and the evenings are getting noticeably shorter. At Consilium, this autumn also brought a rather good reason to get everyone together.
Usually held in spring, Dare to Discover is our opportunity to bring colleagues together to share ideas, hear from teams across the business and explore what comes next. Amplify is our celebration of the people who make it all happen. This year, we combined the two. With us marking 30 years in business, we had the perfect excuse to go big.
On 1 October, Dare to Discover x Amplify brought UK colleagues together at Exhibition White City in London for an afternoon of insight and inspiration, followed by an evening of celebration with a distinctly 90s twist.
The thread running through the day? Momentum.
Creating Momentum
CEO David Bearman opened Dare to Discover with a keynote exploring what it takes to build momentum and sustain it. Reflecting on our journey over the past 30 years, he looked at the decisions, people and ambition that have brought us here and what will keep us moving forward.
Writing Momentum brought colleagues from across Rokstone to the stage to explore the work behind building and growing specialist underwriting teams, and how expertise translates into opportunity.
Next, Broking Momentum saw Consilium colleagues discuss the relationships, specialist knowledge and market opportunities driving the business forward.
Then things got a little more hands-on. In Powering Momentum, colleagues from Central Services took on the Pit Wall Challenge: a message-relay game in which instructions passed from one person to the next, with noise cancelling headphones making communication considerably trickier. As the message travelled down the line, its meaning didn’t quite make it to the other end intact. It was a funny and revealing demonstration of how easily communication can break down, and why clear information and collaboration matter across the business.
Technology took the spotlight in Accelerating Momentum, exploring how we are using technology and AI to work differently, move faster and create new opportunities.
But momentum isn’t only about speed. In Before Momentum, our performance coach, Steve Desborough, explored the mental clarity that comes before effective action: creating space to think, staying focused and bringing the right mindset to the opportunities and challenges ahead.
Momentum that Matters followed, featuring Georgina Disney-May from Race Against Dementia, our chosen charity. The session opened with a moving video in which colleagues shared their personal experiences of dementia, bringing home the impact it has on individuals and everyone who loves them.
It was a powerful reminder that ambition, innovation and collaboration can help drive change beyond our business. In 2027, we’ll channel that energy into an ambitious fundraising event supporting Race Against Dementia’s vital work. Watch this space.
Then We Turned It Up
With the afternoon wrapped up, David returned to the stage to introduce the next chapter of the day: Amplify. And because this is our 30th year, there was only one direction to take it, back to the 90s.
The evening saw the return of our Applaud Awards, recognising colleagues across the company who have gone above and beyond for customers, their teams and the wider business. Celebrating their achievements together was a fitting highlight of a day dedicated to the people behind our momentum. We’ll have more to share on this year’s winners very soon.
Exhibition White City received the full throwback treatment, with iconic posters covering the walls, while Pac-Man, Tamagotchis and a prize-filled ball pit all made an appearance. Food stations kept everyone fuelled before Bongo’s Bingo brought its own particular brand of chaos, complete with singalongs, outrageous prizes and dance-offs.
After an afternoon of big ideas and an evening featuring Britney, Pac-Man, Bongo’s Bingo and more than a little nostalgia, there was really only one thing left to say:
Oops!… we did it again. (Sorry, we had to.)
All in
Focus
Inspire