About this Event
Join us
Thursday 29th January 2026
5:30pm-7:30pm
Denholm Associates office on 107 George Street
Drinks and nibbles
You know the feeling when a workplace just… works?
People are busy, but they’re not brittle. The pace is real, but so is the support. You see leaders who notice effort, make time, and practice what they preach.
This is the difference between saying you have a great culture and having one.
Join us on the 29th of January for an employer brand session to explore what award-winning employer brand looks like when it’s built into everyday experience.
With John Botia (Chair of the Employer Brand Awards judging panel) sharing what consistently sets award-winning brands apart, and Barry Fearn (CEO of Lane Group, 2024's winner of the Employer BRand of the Year Award) sharing the story behind the result—challenges, decisions, and outcomes.
The session will conclude with an interactive Q&A with the panel, giving attendees the opportunity to ask questions, explore specific challenges and gain practical advice — so please come prepared with your questions.
Hosted by Denholm, this session is designed to be practical, insightful and inspiring, offering real-world perspective for organisations at any stage of their employer brand journey.
Speakers:
John Botia began his career in 1989 as a Marketing graduate with Unilever, prior to undertaking a range of senior Marketing, Sales, HR and General Management roles in the drinks industry for the likes of Scottish & Newcastle, Heineken and Carlsberg, in a 30-year career which took him across Europe, North America and Asia. John returned to Edinburgh in 2015 and set up Spirit-Level Associates, an organisational branding consultancy, with the late Charlie Robertson and Lisa Sutherland. Now operating as a sole trader under the Calo banner he continues to work on organisational and employer branding projects for SMEs and chairs the Marketing Society’s Employer Brand of the Year awards.
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Barry Fearn is CEO of Lane Group, with nearly 30 years’ experience spanning client-side technology roles in London through to senior leadership in marketing and media agencies across London and Edinburgh, with a strong focus on digital growth. He launched his first agency in 2008 and co-founded Lane Media in 2016, later leading the merger with The Lane Agency to form Lane Group as an Employee Owned Trust.
Under Barry’s leadership, Lane Group won the Marketing Society’s Employer Brand of the Year Award in November 2024 and operates as a B Corp, balancing profit with purpose. He now leads a team of 40, sits on the board of Tribe Global, hosts a Marketing Society podcast, supports local charities with marketing expertise, and has been a qualified youth football coach for 12 years.
Event Venue & Nearby Stays
107 George St, 107 George Street, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
GBP 0.00
