Applications are now open for Brand Licensing Europe’s (BLE) 2027 Retail Mentoring Programme (RMP), giving UK retailers free access to specialist training, industry contacts and practical experience designed to build their knowledge and confidence in brand licensing. 

The 100-place programme takes retailers through the licensing journey, from identifying the right brands to partner with and scrutinising brand pitches to understanding licence agreements, fandom and consumer trends. Delegates also learn about developing successful consumer product ranges and build relationships with brand owners, agents, manufacturers and other retailers.

Retailers can apply now, with prospective delegates attending BLE from 6-8 October invited to meet the team at Excel London as a first step towards joining the 2027 cohort. Applications will remain open until the end of the year – or until all the spaces are taken up, whichever falls sooner.

The programme runs from January 2027 and culminates at Brand Licensing Europe, where delegates can put what they have learned into practice and meet hundreds of brand owners and agents representing thousands of license-ready brands. RMP delegates receive VIP access to BLE, along with concierge support to identify relevant brands and arrange meetings ahead of the show.

The programme also includes:  

• An introduction tailored to each delegate’s experience, role and category  
• Tickets to Licensing for Retail Conference – April 2027 
• Tickets to Licensing for Retail Seminar and Workshop – September 2027 
• A day spent with a leading brand owner or licensing agent. This year, they included CAA Brand Management, Hasbro, Zoological Society of London (ZSL), SEGA Europe and more.  
• Guided learning and further networking opportunities 
• A one-year membership to Licensing International 

Laura Freedman-Dagg, Retail Director at Brand Licensing Europe, said: “We’d really encourage retailers thinking about joining the 2027 programme to come and meet us at BLE this October. Seeing the industry in action, meeting some of the people they could be working with and getting a feel for the scale of licensing is a great starting point before the programme begins. The RMP is designed to give retailers the knowledge, contacts and confidence to make licensing work harder for their business, with plenty of practical learning along the way. It’s also a fantastic addition to a retail professional’s CV and is highly regarded within the licensing community.”

A key benefit is the exclusive retail mentoring day held in September specifically for RMP delegates. It brings the cohort together for a full day of workshops, industry insight and peer-to-peer discussion, with retailers hearing directly from licensing experts and taking part in an interactive product development workshop.

This year’s event took place on 10 September, welcoming 80 retail buyers, designers and marketers from 29 retail businesses and featured presentations from Warner Bros. Discovery, Transport for London and Catalyst Creative.

“The BLE Retail Mentoring Programme has been incredibly insightful and a fantastic opportunity to connect with industry experts; I would highly recommend it to any retailer looking to grow their knowledge and network.” Claire Carroll, character.com.

Previous participants have come from retailers including Miniso, Fortnum & Mason, Tesco, Marks & Spencer, John Lewis, Waterstones, Iceland, Matalan and Boots.

The 2027 programme is open to people working for established UK retail businesses with the capability to enter into partnerships with major brands. It is suitable for those who are new to licensing and want to understand the fundamentals, as well as category managers and heads of buying looking to develop their own or their team’s licensing knowledge.

Retailers interested in joining the 2027 cohort can apply now, with applications closing at the end of December 2026.

BLE is sponsored by Licensing International and is the only pan-European annual event dedicated to licensing and brand extension. It takes place 6–8 October 2026 at Excel London. Registration is free for licensing professionals until 5 October and increases to £30 from 6 October.

About Brand Licensing Europe
Launched in 1998, Brand Licensing Europe is the only pan-European annual event dedicated to licensing and brand extension. The London event features over 2,500 brands and more than 7,500 licensees, manufacturers, retailers, distributors, and licensing agents. Brand Licensing Europe is a part of the Global Licensing Group at Informa Markets, the licensing industry’s leading trade show organiser and media partner. Its mission is to provide licensing opportunities around the world by bringing brands and products together.

About License Global
License Global, a part of the Global Licensing Group, is the leading publication for the brand licensing industry, delivering award-winning editorial content, including news, trends, analysis and special reports about the global consumer product and retail marketplace. Through its magazine, website, daily e-newsletter, webinars, videos and event publications, License Global reaches more than 150,000 executives and professionals in all major markets. The magazine also serves as the official publication for the sector’s trade events, which include Licensing Expo, Brand Licensing Europe and Licensing Expo Shanghai.

About Global Licensing Group
The Global Licensing Group at Informa Markets is the licensing industry’s leading tradeshow organiser and media partner. Its mission is to provide licensing opportunities around the world by bringing brands and products together. The following events and information products are produced for the licensing industry by the Global Licensing Group at Informa Markets: Licensing Expo, Brand Licensing Europe, Licensing Expo Shanghai, License Global magazine, licenseglobal.com and License Global Daily E-News. Global Licensing Group events are sponsored by Licensing International.

About Licensing International
Licensing International is the leading trade organization for the $389+ billion global brand licensing industry. Licensing International’s mission is to foster the growth and expansion of brand licensing around the world, raise the level of professionalism for licensing practitioners, and create greater awareness of the benefits of licensing to the business community at large. Founded in 1985, more than 1,200 Licensing International member companies in over 40 countries enjoy access to an array of benefits, including extensive educational programming and worldwide networking events. Visit www.LicensingInternational.org for more information.