What is the No BS Summit VIP dinner?
The No BS Media Summit returns on the 11th and 12th November 2026 at DoubleTree by Hilton, Swindon, bringing together some of the most potent voices in journalism, PR and the media. The summit is designed for those who want straight talking insights without the waffle. This two-day event guarantees honest conversations about the realities of engaging with journalists and standing out from the crowd in today’s fast moving media landscape.
With a lineup of interesting and dynamic speakers, the No BS Media Summit offers first hand perspectives on what really makes a good story and what business owners really need to do to keep up. Whether you’re an expert or a beginner when it comes to PR, the summit offers a rare opportunity to talk directly with those shaping the headlines. As mentioned in previous blogs, five journalists from around the world will be attending the two-day event and three speakers will attend the second day working with everyone in groups to help you pitch a story to the media.
On day one, we will be joined by Jo Riley, a journalist with over twenty-five years of experience. Jo works alongside professional photographer Geoff Robinson and together they have had more than 16,000 stories and pictures published in every national newspaper in the UK and across the globe.
Jo started work as a news reporter for the Cambridge Evening News and later became news editor at press agency Mason’s, based in Cambridge. She has experienced writing a huge assortment of stories, including news, celebrity, human interest, nature and wildlife. She also writes real life features, and her stories have appeared in numerous magazines, including Bella, Take a Break, Chat and Pick Me Up. Both Jo Riley and John Boitnott will be attending as speakers for the second day of the event alongside three others. This isn’t just another event overloaded with information.
The No BS Media Summit is designed specifically to tailor to you and your needs. If you’re ready to start challenging what is working in your business and what isn’t then this event might be exactly what you need!
In the evening on day one, we will be holding an exclusive VIP meal, which was received brilliantly last year. Attendees can bring partners for a fee but the original attendees space is included in the original cost. The meal comes with a raffle and an auction to raise money for Ainslie’s Pavilion Project. For those who don’t know, Ainslie’s Pavilion Project is close to our hearts here at Scott Media.
Ainslie’s Pavilion Project is a community-driven initiative at Purton Cricket Club to build a new, fully accessible sports pavilion. Launched in memory of my dear friend Ainslie Duffell who passed away from cancer in 2015, the campaign was created to ensure that disability and lack of female changing facilities never prevent anyone from enjoying sport. Ainslie Duffell was a great friend of mine, and her husband Phil Duffell and son Alex Duffell, remain close to us today. After reading her journals, Phil (Ainslie’s husband) and Alex Duffell (Ainslie’s son) chose to honour her memory by raising money to build a new cricket pavilion in place of the current one, where Ainslie had been unable to watch her son Alex reach his first century at the club because she was in a wheelchair and could not access the grounds. Phil and Alex wanted to create something that would make a lasting impact for others. We’re honoured and privileged to have known Ainslie personally and we know this would make her incredibly proud.
The summit will be raising money again for this honourable cause. Each year since Ainslie died, Phil and I have held an auction to raise at least £50,000 alongside other events like sponsored walks, raffles and quiz nights.
But the fun doesn’t stop there! Last year, Taz Thornton and Asha Clearwater attended and provided some empowerment workshops and activities. We are delighted to confirm that both Taz and Asha will be attending again this year and will be providing more fun activities which may include broken glass and arrows… stay tuned to find out more.
Jokes aside, networking in social settings is vital in helping to grow your business. It helps to build trusted relationships that traditional advertising cannot match and provides peer support to reduce business owner isolation. These connections can generate referrals, uncover hidden sales opportunities and create better visibility for you and your business. Here are a few top tips to help with networking:
- Get involved. The hardest part of networking is showing up and talking. For many, this feels daunting but as soon as you get talking, you’ll realise how easy it can actually be.
- Smile and open your stance. Positive body language helps show others that we’re approachable and makes them feel like we’re actually interested in engaging with them.
- Ask open ended questions. Get people talking about things they enjoy and sharing their hobbies and work with you. This keeps the conversation going and opens up room for more opportunities.
- Listen more than you speak: Pay close attention to answers so you can find genuine common ground with others.
- Keep your intro brief. Have a short, prepared way to explain in a few sentences what you do and offer without turning it into a long speech.
Lastly, have fun! Make the most of the opportunities that come your way and try to relax into it. The more anxious you feel the harder it becomes but almost everyone in the room will have experienced the anxiety of networking before and will encourage you to be yourself and meet new people.
The two-day event is £1020 including VAT and is a valuable opportunity to learn, engage and make connections. You can find my previous blogs here – https://scottmedia.uk/what-makes-my-no-bs-summit-so-special/.
Due to costs incurred there is a no refund policy on this event. If you are interested in joining us at Scott Media, then please contact Hannah on: .