Manchester Hall was the place to be on Wednesday night as PEAK4 launched the very first Future Human Series event.

And what a way to start.

The World Cup Edition brought together more than 300 guests from across business and sport for an evening packed with inspiration, entertainment, networking and plenty of memorable moments.

From the moment guests arrived, there was a real buzz in the room. New connections were made, old friendships were rekindled and conversations flowed throughout the evening.

We were privileged to welcome an incredible line-up of footballing legends, including former Manchester United and England defender Phil Jones, Premier League and Champions League winner Wes Brown, former Manchester United and Scotland forward Brian McClair, and former Manchester United assistant manager and England international Mike Phelan. Bringing the evening together brilliantly was our host Joe Casserley, whose energy, humour and quick wit kept the audience entertained from start to finish.

The event was also supported by respected broadcaster, and The Performance Edge podcast host, Tanya Arnold. Throughout the event, attendees heard fascinating stories from the world of elite sport, leadership and high performance, gaining unique insights into resilience, teamwork, culture and success at the highest level.

The entertainment was equally impressive. A huge thank you to Sterling AV, for delivering a first-class production that helped create a seamless experience throughout the night. Guests were also left scratching their heads by the incredible close-up magic of Kay Dyson, aka Miss Magic, while keepy-uppy entertainer Stephen Gray wowed the audience with his remarkable football freestyle skills, providing a fitting tribute to the World Cup theme.

Acclaimed singer-songwriter Jonathan Jeremiah delivered a stunning live performance that provided the perfect soundtrack to the evening. One of the standout moments came when he performed his much-loved song Happiness, a track that many guests will know from its use by the BBC as background music for montages on their flagship football show, Match of the Day.

The atmosphere throughout Manchester Hall was electric. Business leaders, industry professionals and guests came together to share ideas, build relationships and celebrate the power of community (whilst catching an incredible game). For the first Future Human Series event, the support was simply phenomenal. From the moment doors opened until the final conversations of the evening, there was a genuine sense that something special was taking place.

The event also shone a spotlight on the evening's charity partner, Forests With Impact, whose innovative work combines environmental sustainability with social impact through prison-based commercial tree nurseries.

None of this would have been possible without the incredible support of our sponsors and partners.

Platinum Plus Sponsor
• Shawston

Platinum Sponsor
• COGNA

Gold Sponsors
• Network Plus
• SKEWB
• JN Civils
• UIS

Silver Sponsor
• United Infrastructure

Bronze Sponsors
• Beacon TM
• KLT
• CKR

Sponsorship Partners
• Letterbox Cocktails
• Mulpipe (Murray Utilities Ltd)

A special thank you also goes to Mike Phelan Coaching for supporting the event and helping us launch the Future Human Series in style.

To every sponsor, partner, speaker, performer, supplier and guest, thank you. Your support, energy and enthusiasm turned an idea into something truly special.

And just when we thought the evening couldn't get any better, England delivered a victory to round off the night perfectly.

For those who couldn't make it... make sure you're at the next one. Trust us, you won't want to miss what's coming next.