Sage Signs As Headline Sponsor for ELEVATE 2025

If you haven’t already seen – we’re excited to be welcoming Sage as the headline sponsor for ELEVATE Summit this year, taking place on July 15-16. This partnership highlights Sage’s deep connection to helping SME’s grow their businesses and their commitment to support affiliates in the UK alongside the launch of their recent affiliate program on impact.com 

As we gear up to deliver another thoughtfully curated event for SME brands and UK based advertisers to benefit from, we’re bringing expert voices together to discuss and share what’s new and tactical in digital and performance marketing this year! 

Addressing Unique SME Challenges Through Strategic Partnerships

We spoke with Alexander Feist, Head of Affiliate Marketing at Sage, about his investment in ELEVATE, prior to meeting him at the event, on why Sage is invested in building real relationships. 

With 18+ years in the B2B Software industry, Alex leads Sage’s global Affiliate Program, focusing on building high-quality, meaningful partnerships. He is passionate about driving growth through affiliate marketing and working closely with affiliates to create long-term, valuable collaborations. Previously, he led Sage’s transition to a global paid media agency, driving efficiency and alignment across regions. You’d have to be mad to miss this chance to connect with Alex if you’re interested in exploring affiliate partnerships or growth opportunities together. 

Here’s what 5 minutes with him revealed about their decision to sponsor and attend ELEVATE Summit, what he’s excited to learn, and what they’ll be sharing with our audience on the big day…

We are so excited to have Sage as our headline sponsor for  ELEVATE. How does this partnership align with your broader affiliate marketing strategy?

“Sponsoring ELEVATE is a fantastic opportunity to introduce the Sage Affiliate Program to a wider audience and connect with the affiliate community. Empowering small and medium-sized businesses has always been a core part of our mission, and launching the affiliate program is a natural extension of that commitment. We see affiliate marketing as a powerful channel for growth, not just for Sage but for our partners, too. We’re excited to meet partners who share our vision and want to be part of this growing opportunity.”

As Head of Affiliate Marketing at Sage, could you share your perspective on how B2B affiliate partnerships are uniquely positioned to address the specific challenges that UK SMEs face today?

“SMEs are the backbone of the UK economy and often face challenges like staying compliant with tax regulations, managing cash flow, and scaling efficiently. The Sage Affiliate Program helps partners connect these businesses with tools designed to support their growth. Whether it is digitising their accounting or streamlining operations, B2B affiliate partnerships allow us to reach SMEs through trusted voices they already follow and rely on.”

What can delegates expect to learn from you at the event?

“My team and I will be sharing the story of how we built the affiliate program at Sage, what we’ve learned along the way, and why it represents such an exciting opportunity in the B2B space. Whether you are new to affiliate marketing or looking to grow an existing channel, there will be plenty of practical insights and takeaways from our journey so far. I’ll also explore why affiliate marketing plays a key role in a SaaS business like Sage and why it offers real potential for partners who may not have considered B2B before.”

Could you elaborate on which operational pain points you’re seeing SMEs struggle with most, and how your affiliate program helps connect them with solutions?

“Many SMEs are short on time and often don’t have the right tools to manage their business efficiently. They’re busy juggling accounting, tax, payroll, and keeping up with changing regulations, marketing, sales… the list is long! Through our affiliate partners, we help them discover software that makes all of this easier. Our solutions, including built-in AI capabilities, are designed to save time, reduce stress, and give business owners more confidence in their day-to-day operations. By working with trusted partners, we make it easier for SMEs to find the tools that truly support their growth.”

Many SME owners and e-commerce business founders are focused on day-to-day operations rather than seeking new tools and insight. How does Sage’s affiliate program help bridge this gap, and what success stories have you seen where the right partnership transformed a small business’s efficiency or growth trajectory?

“That’s very true. Running a small business often means there’s little time left to search for better tools. Our affiliates help bridge that gap by sharing Sage in the places where small businesses are already looking for support and advice. One of our partners recently shared a message from a customer who found Sage Accounting through his blog. The customer said they are now saving loads of time chasing unpaid invoices thanks to Sage Copilot, our AI powered productivity tool. Stories like this really show how the right partnership can make a big impact. It’s not just about selling software. It’s about helping businesses work smarter and giving them back time to focus on what matters.”

What specific outcomes or connections are you hoping to achieve through Sage’s presence at ELEVATE, and how do you see this benefiting both Sage and the affiliate marketing community?

“We want to speak with as many affiliates (and also our customers) as possible and build real relationships. Human interaction is key for success in this overcrowded market we are all working in. I’m excited to be here and learn what’s new, what’s trending and what might help my business grow – the same as everyone else attending this event. The agenda and line-up have been curated by people who know how to grow sales. This event is a chance for us to introduce Sage to the small operaters, brands and suppliers and to bring affiliates into their world and show how exciting B2B partnerships can be. We’re hoping to meet people who are a good fit for our affiliate program, too and who want to grow with us.”

Does that sound like you? Get your ticket, today! 

Alex will be speaking on our partnerships panel: Leveraging B2B Partnerships to Scale your Business and Customer Reach, where we will dive into the unique challenges and opportunities of B2B Partnerships present to SME’s. This session covers trends, tools, and strategies and alternative publisher tactics to engage affiliates effectively and optimise performance.

Join us and all of the brands you need to network with at Events @ No6 London – located in the City of London, just a short walk from Aldgate and Aldgate East,  Fenchurch and Liverpool Street station.