Retailers, brand owners and licensees visiting Brand Licensing Europe in October will come a few steps closer to answering the mother of all marketing questions - who precisely is the consumer of the future? – thanks to four free-to-attend Licensing Academy sessions that promise to unveil exactly that.

Tom Savigar, director of strategy and insight at The Future Laboratory, presents the keynote address to the Licensing Academy on 2 October. The Future Laboratory is one of Europe’s foremost trend forecasting, consumer insight and brand strategy networks and Tom will draw from its extensive resources to predict and explain emerging consumer trends and how they can affect the licensing world and the delegates in his session.

From Womenomics to the slash-slash generation, attendees can expect a forward thinking presentation containing valuable insights into the future and will leave inspired and armed with solid, practical information about trends that are relevant to their consumers. Tom Savigar’s keynote takes place on 2 October between 1100 and 1200.

Visitors to Brand Licensing Europe can also hear Gary Pope, director of Kids Industries, speak on a brand new of-the-moment topic - the results of his company's research into the behaviour of young children online and in the digital space. Gary promises to reveal results that will surprise many visitors while, more importantly, helping them to make their online offering better-suited to children. ‘Appealing to children in the digital space - getting your message right’ takes place on 1 October between 1300 and 1400.

After a very lively seminar at Brand Licensing Europe 2007 on the licensing industry's response to ethical and environmental business practise, Oliver Dyer, managing director of Skew Studios, returns for 2008 with a panel of expert speakers to explore retail and consumer-led trends in this field and our industry's response. ‘Creative and green in licensing - does it wash?’ takes place on 1 October between 1130 and 1230.

And finally, licensing research specialist NPD will, once again, deliver up to the minute statistical analysis of current market trends direct to retailers, debunking many popular myths and highlighting numerous opportunities. ‘NPD special report: licensing myths & licensing opportunities in the toy market’ takes place on 2 October between 1400 and 1500.

“Last year’s Licensing Academy launch was a huge hit with visitors so we knew it was going to be a hard task to better the programme for 2008,” explained programme director Sam Phillips.

“However, our visitors were very clear in their feedback that they would like to hear even more about consumers and trends and so, as a direct response to that request, we're bringing the market leaders, the absolute best, to present at this year’s Licensing Academy. And what’s more, it’s absolutely free.”

All visitors to Brand Licensing Europe are eligible to attend the Licensing Academy session free of charge and can. To register for a complimentary visitor pass, save £15 on the door and be fast tracked into the event, please visit www.brandlicensingeurope.com.