The Artisan Collective 2025 takes place on Tuesday 28 January at The Compound in Birmingham.
Here, the community will gather to celebrate artisan bakeries and the people behind them. The free-to-attend event, sponsored by Craggs & Co, will also offer a platform in which to facilitate conversations and share skills, network with likeminded bakers, and sample delicious food.
Join us on the bakery tour
Prior to the event starting, we’re offering a select few attendees the opportunity to join us on a bakery walking tour during which we will sample delights from three bakeries in the local area.
The bakeries are as follows:
- Perch Bakery
- Medicine Bakery
- Cakes & Bakes
The tour starts at 12:30 and will take around 1.5 hours, ending at The Compound. Tickets cost £25+VAT and the price includes a bakery item per person at each shop and two drinks on the tour. Tickets are available via this link.
2pm: Arrive at The Compound
Guests will be greeted by a hot drink and selection of nibbles.
2:30pm: Welcome and bakery show & tell
British Baker editor Amy North will kick off proceedings followed by a show & tell in which attendees take to the stage to discuss the products they have brought with them.
3pm: Finishing masterclass with Graham Hornigold
Graham Hornigold, patisserie expert and co-founder of artisan doughnut firm Longboys, will guide attendees through the process of finishing baked goods, incorporating new techniques and final flourishes to ensure they’re as beautiful as they are delicious.
3:50pm: Networking
To ensure the community spirit is alive and well, we’re including plenty of time for networking, plus an opportunity to tuck into the delectable baked goods brought by guests.
4:15pm: Community sessions
Guests can choose between the 25-minute sessions with each one running twice in the hour
Kitchen: Keep your menu interesting
Cardiff’s Pettigrew Bakeries operates three sites across the city with different models in place to help each location thrive. Products are at the heart of this, and the team will share their approach to NPD and how to know what will work for each type of customer.
Cinema: Embrace the grain
Aidan Monks and Catherine Connor from Lovingly Artisan share their journey of expansion while maintaining their artisan values. The session will focus on their recent venture into milling and their collaboration with local farmers on an organic rye crop.
Landing: Making the most of online retail
Reigning Online Bakery Business of the Year Cutter & Squidge will share what makes an outstanding experience for customers, from website design to packaging, customer service, and how to ensure products are perfect on arrival.
5:15pm: Bakers’ Dozen revealed
A casual drinks reception during which British Baker editor Amy North will reveal the top 13 artisan bakeries in Britain as chosen by our voting academy.
6pm: Carriages
Please note: this programme is subject to change.
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