LDC Top 50 2025
Jos van der Steen and Peter Cliff
Co-Founders
CONDUCTR
“We’re proud to be flying the flag for Manchester, creating world-class, kick-ass attractions from our Trafford HQ,” says Peter Cliff, co-founder of CONDUCTR. Alongside Jos van der Steen, he’s built a fast-growing business that blends creativity with cutting-edge tech to deliver immersive experiences.
From The Curse at Alton Manor to the world’s first outdoor interactive LED sports court for Norwegian Cruise Line, their work is attracting global demand, with new studios launched in North America and the Middle East. “We make bold ideas happen,” says van der Steen. “The goal has always been to stop chasing briefs and become the brand everyone wants to work with – that’s finally happening.”
We’re proud to be flying the flag for Manchester, creating world-class, kick-ass attractions from our HQ in Trafford.”
Q&A
What was your relationship like when you first started working together?
Jos: We were colleagues at a previous company and honestly, we didn’t like each other at first! We saw each other as threats – both ambitious with strong personalities. But then we worked closely on a pitch for a Middle Eastern theme park. It forced us to collaborate, and we realised we actually got on. Pete would crash on my sofa when visiting from Manchester, and we built a real friendship. We knew we could inject fresh energy into the industry.
How did you get the business off the ground?
Peter: We started with small design packages, using freelancers to keep costs low. We always treated every job like it had an extra zero on the budget and that mindset helped build credibility and trust. In this industry, your portfolio is everything. We grew quickly but also hit bumps, like a major project being cancelled midway. It’s a feast-and-famine model, so we launched a product side of the business, called Game Volt, to give us stability and IP. Our Supercharged Shuffleboard was the first product launched in the range, which is a high-tech interactive version of the classic game of shuffleboard.
Where are the growth opportunities?
Jos: Around 75 per cent of our revenue comes from the US, so we opened a 7,500 sq ft design and production studio in Orlando, just 10 minutes from Universal Studios. We’ve also launched an office in the Middle East – a booming market for themed entertainment, backed by a growing middle class and major investment. With Disney announcing its first Middle Eastern theme park in Abu Dhabi, the region is positioning itself as a global destination for immersive experiences.
