25 February 2026, 18:00 - 22:00
21, One Trinity Gardens, Pandon, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 2HH
This event is FULLY BOOKED - Please email info@entrepreneursforum.net to be added to the RESERVE LIST.
From start-up to market leader with £200m in annual revenues, Lee Hartley built Fairstone Group into one of the UK’s most dynamic financial services businesses. After founding the company in 2008, he led it through ambitious growth, multiple investment rounds, and a unique acquisition strategy, scaling it into a national powerhouse while keeping innovation and client focus at the heart.
Before Fairstone, Lee had already established himself as a successful entrepreneur, making waves in e-commerce and software, delivering solutions for major organisations like Zurich, AXA, Abbey and London & European Insurance, as well as numerous banks and building societies. His knack for spotting opportunity, building scalable strategies, and turning vision into results laid the foundations for the success that followed.
In 2025, Lee was crowned Entrepreneur of the Year at our Entrepreneurial Awards. A well-deserved recognition of not just the scale of what he built, but his leadership, appetite for taking calculated risks, making bold decisions, and growing a business capable of thriving through all market conditions.
Join us for a special dinner featuring a fireside chat between Lee and his close friend John Duns, Director and Co-owner at North East Times. Together, they’ll explore the full Fairstone journey, from early concept and rapid growth, through to the challenges, breakthroughs and lessons learned along the way, culminating in Lee’s successful exit from the business.
The conversation will delve into what it really takes to build and scale a high-value company managing over £20 billion of client funds, and how he has navigated the realities of stepping away after years of leadership. Lee will share reflections on growth, investment, acquisitions, and exit.
In January 2026, Lee announced the launch of Castrius Capital Partners, a new private capital platform focusing on the North East of England. Be one of the first to learn about this new mission where Lee plans to bring £100bn of funding to the region over the next ten years.
Spaces are limited. This is a rare opportunity to learn from one of the North East’s most forward-thinking, inspiring and unstoppable entrepreneurs in an evening you won’t want to miss.
The Small Print
This event is exclusively for entrepreneurial members of the Forum and costs £90 +VAT for a three-course meal, payable in advance.
By registering to attend this dinner you agree that your place is non-transferrable. We are unable to reimburse this cost if cancellations are received after 12noon on Wednesday 18th February.
