On Wednesday 7 May, the sun was shining and the conversations were flowing which could mean only one thing –it was PPA Festival time again! As a real highlight in our calendar, this year’s event didn’t disappoint. The PPA Festival is always a brilliant chance to catch up with clients, swap notes with fellow suppliers, and reconnect with familiar faces from across the publishing world.
We were proud to be event sponsors for another year running, and the ESco stand was a hive of activity thanks to our dream team: Susan, Louise, Alistair, Rob, and Victoria, all on hand throughout the day to talk subscriptions, data, and what makes customer experiences truly stand out.
This year’s talks covered a broad spectrum of the issues shaping publishing today – and the passion in the room was unmistakable.
A standout session for us came from Louise Ioannou at NG Kids, who shared how exceptional customer service has played a starring role in growing their subscriptions. The focus on a people-first approach and purpose-driven service particularly resonated with us, at the heart of everything we do.
We also soaked up a sharp and insightful session from Lucky Gunasekara, co-founder of AI start-up Miso, who faced the elephant in the room – how AI is shaking up publishing, and how bold, creative strategy can turn challenge into opportunity.
Rob had a particularly inspiring conversation with Chris Packham, naturalist and presenter, about the environmental implications of AI development – a fascinating conversation that brought some big-picture thinking into the day’s tech-heavy topics.
And when it comes to digital disruption, we can’t forget Stuart Forrest, Global SEO Director at Bauer, who gave a straight-talking overview on how Google’s evolving AI search summaries are set to change the SEO game. With larger AI overviews already rolling out in the US, the message was clear – publishers need to act fast, or risk being buried beneath the bots.
Meanwhile, our Client Services Executive, Victoria, focused in on the Audience and Product sessions – gathering tips and tricks to feed directly back to our clients. From emerging strategies to real-time publishing insights, she brought the learning straight from the festival floor to the people who need it most. We stay ahead of the curve so that you don’t have to.
The day wrapped up with some relaxed networking drinks, where we had the chance to catch up with old friends and get chatting to few new faces too. After a packed day of bold ideas and brilliant conversations, it was the perfect way to wind down and reflect on everything we’d heard.
With so much insight packed into one day, we left feeling energised, challenged, and proud to be part of such a future-focused industry.
Here’s to another fantastic year at the PPA Festival – and we’re already looking forward to the next one.
