Roche Conference 2026: Turning Ambition into Ownership

Client: Roche

Manchester Central, Manchester, UK

Roche UK’s 2026 Conference was a transformative internal event that united the entire workforce around a shared purpose, strengthened connections and inspired employees to take ownership of the company’s future.

Roche UK had set an ambitious goal to double the number of patients benefiting from a Roche medicine by 2030. However, insight revealed that while colleagues understood the ambition, many struggled to see how they personally contributed to achieving it. Bringing together 380 employees, the conference became a critical ‘land it’ moment, and an opportunity to reconnect colleagues with Roche’s mission, leadership and each other.

The event was designed as a three-day behaviour-change and team-building experience under the unifying theme Driven by Why. Powered by Us. Every aspect encouraged participation, collaboration and dialogue, replacing passive conference formats with immersive experiences, interactive discussions, leadership conversations, team challenges, charity initiatives and shared celebrations. Employees were not simply attendees; they became active contributors to the experience and its outcomes.

Post-event results showed that 98.9% of attendees understood the company’s 2030 ambition and why it matters, 97.8% understood the organisational ‘Shifts’ required and 91.1% felt more connected to colleagues. Attendees left feeling ‘inspired’, ‘motivated’, ‘connected’ and ‘energised’.

Social impact was embedded throughout the experience, connecting Roche’s ambition to real-world outcomes. Through patient stories, sessions with The King’s Fund and Great Ormond Street Hospital, and the ‘See the City. Support the City’ activation, which generated more than 800 essential items for a local homelessness charity, delegates experienced the wider impact of their work and collective action.

By combining employee engagement, innovative experience design and authentic leadership interaction, the event did more than communicate strategy. It strengthened culture, deepened relationships and created a shared sense of ownership that continues to unite employees behind Roche UK’s mission and future success.