Intelligence/The Hubs
2Monthly · London · By invitation

The Hubs.

Leadership and politics, explored in rotation. Each evening closed-door, each room small enough that everyone is heard.

Closed-door · Curated · Invitation only

Next on the Programme

19 May

6pm to 9pm

Politics Hub

Campaign Foundry

Room C53

UCL School of Management

One Canada Square, Canary Wharf, London E14 5AA

About this event & register

Limited to 40 seats

Two hubs

One network. Two conversations.

01Monthly · London · By invitation

Leadership Hub

Where leaders sharpen leaders.

A training ground for leaders at every stage. Each evening brings in an expert to teach a specific leadership concept, followed by open discussion where participants challenge, question and learn from one another. Practical skills, not motivational speeches.

The room

Directors. Heads of organisations. Emerging leaders. Senior advisers. Anyone serious about sharpening how they lead.

  • Expert-led sessions on leadership concepts
  • Open discussion, participants learn from each other
  • Monthly, by invitation
02Monthly · London · By invitation

Politics Hub

Where engagement meets skill.

A structured evening built around real questions. Everyone introduces themselves. Guest speakers share their story. The floor opens. Questions are honest, responses are practical, and the room is small enough that everyone is heard.

The room

Aspiring politicians. Policy enthusiasts. Students. Young professionals. Anyone who believes democracy works better when more people show up.

Under-25s are always welcome.

  • Circle format, everyone is introduced
  • Guest speakers, open floor, real questions
  • Monthly, by invitation

What to expect

The shape of a hub evening.

Both hubs follow a similar structure. Room small, format tight, conversation real.

  1. 01

    Arrivals and introductions

    18:30 to 19:00

    Everyone in the room is introduced by name. We keep the room small enough that this is quick and everyone remembers.

  2. 02

    The session

    19:00 to 19:45

    An expert or guest speaker leads for 30 to 40 minutes on the evening's theme. No slides. Plain speech. What they have learned, not what they want to sell.

  3. 03

    Open floor

    19:45 to 20:45

    Questions, challenge, push-back. Chatham House rules. The room is where the real value happens; the session is the prompt.

  4. 04

    Informal continuation

    20:45 onwards

    Drinks, conversation, connection. No forced networking. People stay if they want to.

The Programme

Upcoming Events

19 May

Campaign Foundry

Politics Hub

8 Jun

Youth Turnout and the Democratic Deficit

Politics Hub

22 Jun

The Craft of Public Narrative

Leadership Hub

12 Jul

Parliamentary Reform: What Changes Next?

Politics Hub

26 Jul

Decision-Making Under Pressure

Leadership Hub

10 Aug

Local Government and National Change

Politics Hub

Archive

Past Gatherings

The Art of Political Persuasion

Politics Hub · Mar 2026

Building Organisations That Last

Leadership Hub · Feb 2026

Europe After the Elections

Politics Hub · Jan 2026

What Makes a Good Leader

Leadership Hub · Dec 2025

Common questions

Before you register interest.

Register interest through the form opposite. We run a short review against the room we are curating for that evening. If it is a good fit, we send an invitation. If not in the current round, you stay on the list for future evenings.

No. The hubs are not ticketed. Drinks and food are provided by InStone and occasional sponsors. The cost of entry is contribution: you show up, you introduce yourself, you engage with the room.

Thirty minutes with a speaker, an hour of open floor, then informal continuation. Full timeline above under What to expect. Both hubs follow the same shape; the rooms and subjects differ.

Not by default. Seats are named and the room is curated. If there is someone you think should be in the room, tell us when you register and we will consider them for the next evening.

No. Chatham House rules. What is said in the room stays in the room. Speakers sometimes publish their own remarks afterward; the discussion does not leave.

Through the Propose a speaker link in the sidecard at the top of this page. We curate every speaker personally. A good proposal names the person, the subject, and what the room would leave with.