bravethefavoursfortune
Thursday 26th May 2022
#NEentrepreneurs
Your conference…next When you bring someone into the Entrepreneurs’ Forum, you’re not only helping them to grow their business faster, you’re helping to ensure the Forum continues to grow stronger too. In recognition of your support, we’ll give you and your friend a free conference ticket each (saving you both £99 + VAT)! 1. Tell your entrepreneurial friends why you’re a member of the Forum 2. You or your friend give us a call on 0191 500 7780 or send an email to info@entrepreneursforum.net 3. Your friend becomes a member and you both receive your free tickets Terms apply. To join, your friend must own a North East based business which turns over at least £250,000 per annum. Your free conference place will be offered once your friend has joined the Forum. Both yourself and your referral must be paying members for at least 6 months before your free place can be used. We all get by with a little help from our friends!
Welcome to Fortune Favours the Brave, a day all about how focusing on how being brave and staying true to your beliefs can bring huge benefits to you and your company.
As always, we couldn’t do what we do without the support of our partners and members, some of which have supported us from the very beginning. To all of you, I’d like to extend my thanks, together we’re helping to make a stronger North East.
2022 marks the Forum’s 20th anniversary and as we prepare for the celebratory gala dinner in June, I’m reminded of our original mission, shared by Sir Peter Vardy during our launch event in 2003.
Having held our FFTB conference for over eight years, it’s this year in particular that this message really speaks to me.
Since then, we’ve held a record number of events (today’s conference being our 60th in-person event), bringing members back together to help one another succeed. It’s here that new connections are made, knowledge is shared and businesses get stronger. This is what fuels us and reminds us why we do what we do.
And while we may not know what the next 20 years will bring, we can promise the same level of commitment and support that has come to define the Forum.
Welcome to Fortune Favours the Brave
From 40 founding members we now represent over 300 North East entrepreneurs – a number that keeps growing. While our mission remains the same, like all of our members, we’ve had to innovate and adapt. We’ve had to respond at record speed to exceptional circumstances. We’ve had to be Last‘brave’.summer, following guidance and after hearing your views, we made the decision to return to a full in-person events programme – the first business support organisation in the region to do so.
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To 20 years of the Entrepreneurs’ Forum. James Robson MBE Chairman of Entrepreneurs’theForum
Addressing the Forum’s 40 founding members, Sir Peter explained that the Forum had one overarching aim: to bring North East entrepreneurs’ together to ‘ignite business minds’ and that mission still holds true today.
PeteWelcome9:00amGraves
@doctor_willsSupportedby
NanoLockEran10:15amFine
Dr.Liam11:50amchatandCoffee,11:10amcookiestimetoWhiteWill’s
4 | FORTUNE FAVOURS THE BRAVE Today’s programme
@nanolocksecSupportedby
Breakfast8:00am Supported by Wellness8:15am walk* TheRuckerChrissie9:10amOBEWhiteCompany Supported@thewhitecompanyby
@PeteGravesTV James Robson MBE @entforum
@o_agency_tweets GrenadeJuliet3:10pmBarratt @grenadeofficial
receptionDrinks4:15pm by
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wellnessLunch12:45pmandwalk* Supported by HappinessDanny2:15pmBentGuru Supported@dannybentby
PeteaddressClosing4:00pmGraves Kari Owers
Supported
@PeteGravesTV
* Enjoy the fresh air and see the sights in our mini wellness walks, leaving from Hardwick Hall Hotel at breakfast and lunch! These short walks (approx. one mile) will get your legs moving and give you the opportunity to catch-up with other Forum members and partners. If you would like to take part head to the registration desk at either 8:15am and/or 12:45pm.
6 | FORTUNE FAVOURS THE BRAVE Let’s beat cancer together! To celebrate 20 years of the Entrepreneurs’ Forum, we’ve set ourselves a challenge: to raise £20,000 for charity. It won’t be easy – on Saturday 2nd July we’re planning on taking on Kielder Water (all 27 miles of it!) and we’re inviting you to join us. Visit entrepreneursforum.net to register and donate or use the QR code.
A very big thank you
Sharing our ambition to make the region stronger, each of our partners and sponsors is an expert in their field and cares deeply about the North East business community and the people that live and work here. They all want to help you on your entrepreneurial journey and you can meet with the leaders of each of these organisations here today amongst the audience and at their exhibition stands.
Providing North East entrepreneurs with impartial advice and access to support and finance that will help you to grow your business, the North East Growth Hub is a crucial part of the region’s business support set-up. With dedicated Growth Connectors providing one-to-one support, an online platform that gives you instant access to over 300 business support and finance providers, and a number of tailored programmes designed to give specialist business help, if you’re planning for growth, the North East Growth Hub can help you achieve it. Visit the online platform to find out more and see the directory of business events, seminars, training and opportunitiesnetworkingalldesigned to help you grow your business. Wander Films Wander Films is a video production and marketing company creating next level visual content for brands to #beatthescrollTM. Wander's services range from filming, editing, strategy, consultation, design, motion graphics and social media. Wander is on a mission to disrupt the way businesses market themselves online and has helped hundreds of clients post exciting, consistent and engaging content for company and personal brands since 2018. The team of 15 is made up of filmmakers, social media managers, vfx/gfx artists, project managers and editors. Chloë Clover (co-founder and director) was recently listed in Forbes 30 Under 30 and Wander was selected as a Pact Future30 company for being one of the UK's most exciting production companies. Business Durham Business Durham is the business support service for Durham County Council, helping to deliver a strong competitive economy for the county. They specialise in connecting businesses with the right support, funding, and the networks they need at every step of their journey. Inspiring an enterprise culture for County Durham, Business Durham work closely with partners to help entrepreneurs turn their bright ideas into successful reality. With an extensive business property portfolio of offices, modern laboratories and industrial units, they can find the right space for businesses to grow in the heart of the North East. Business Durham attracts capital and inward investment to the county, encouraging a vibrant innovative economy that enables companies to grow and flourish. To find out how they can help your business grow and flourish in the region’s largest economy, speak to the Business Durham team. British Business Bank Helping small businesses find a way. The British Business Bank are the UK’s economic development bank and are here to help your business find a way, with free financial tools and expert information. They’re experts in small business finance and work with a broad range of partners to help businesses like yours, whether you’re a start-up, an established business or you’re looking to grow.
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Without the support of generous people like our speakers, sponsors and partners, the Entrepreneurs’ Forum wouldn’t be able to achieve any of the things we do, let alone host a day like today.
Associate partners
North East Growth Hub
J&B Recycling is at the forefront of waste management and recycling in the UK. They deliver kerbside waste processing services for local authorities and provide waste collection and recycling services to businesses, hospitals and universities across the region. Their focus is maximising recycling and minimising waste to landfill. In the majority of cases J&B Recycling offers a "Zero Waste to Landfill" solution. Speak to the team at the J&B Recycling stand to see if you qualify for a FREE waste audit and find out if they can help make your waste management more efficient, reducing costs and supporting your sustainability goals. There’s also the opportunity to win a bottle of bubbly!
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Week2Week Week2Week Serviced Apartments offer flexibility, allowing travellers to have more control over their own environment. Apartment living is proven to have a positive impact on mental health and wellbeing. In addition, apartments allow families and colleagues to enjoy shared or single occupancy whilst still having space to live and work in a home from home environment. Apartments offer savings too; they are up to 30% cheaper than hotels, have lower food and laundry costs and give clients a temporary address whilst they settle into a new area. Week2Week Serviced Apartments offer a personal approach with close attention to detail ensuring client’s specific requirements are met in line with their company values. Visit the Week2Week stand to speak with the friendly team about direct rates, their simple booking process, and more information.
Networking partners
J&B Recycling
UMi Wherever you are on your business journey, UMi takes the hard work out of finding and using the best information, expertise and finance, so you can get there quicker and in better shape, with: • Advice and support – dedicated adviser, monthly check-ins and alerts • Finance and funding – never miss out on eligible grants, loans and support • Events and training – be inspired, stretch your thinking and connect with peers • Tools and resources – 100s of actionable guides, templates and articles • Discounts and deals – exciting offers from our partners Speak to the team at the UMi stand to get an extended free, no obligation 6-month trial.
A very big thank you
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Double Eleven Double Eleven is a full-service video games developer and publisher, working on some of the world’s biggest IP’s (Minecraft) with some of the globe’s largest companies (Microsoft). They may operate their HQ out of Middlesbrough, and run a satellite office in Kuala Lumpur, but their partners and players span all territories across the world. The company was founded in a loft by Lee Hutchinson (Teesside University Graduate) in late 2009 and now has a diverse workforce employing 300 people and growing every day. Most of Double Eleven’s employees live, or have relocated to be, neartheir Middlesbrough HQ, and given a lot of these people can work all over the world, what Double Eleven offer their employees as a people first business must be world class, and it is.
Kinnery Since 2005, Ian Kinnery has been helping business leaders to grow themselves and their businesses with customised coaching techniques. After leading the Entrepreneurs’ Forum Scale-up Leader’s Academy for the last six years, he has supported many Forum members to scale their companies – and their leadership. With more than three decades of experience in starting and scaling businesses, Ian helps owners and managers move forward, taking their companies and their teams from successful to extraordinary. Because parenting a business that won’t grow up is hard – Ian Kinnery can share the load.
Event production and AV provided by Event partners
NRG NRG recognise that exceptional employees are the driving force behind every successful organisation and they work hard to place great people in great businesses, ensuring technical, cultural and behavioural fit every time. NRG places talent into some of the most sought-after roles in accountancy and finance, tech, digital marketing, HR and development as well as business support. Their Executive Search and Selection team work with clients to deliver senior leadership, board, non-executive director and chair appointments.
‘greenbean’ is their Recruitment Process Outsourcing (RPO) business and delivers project and end-to-end volume resourcing solutions throughout the UK.
Opportunity is created when you meet people you didn’t know you needed to meet, so please take the time to speak to each of our exhibitors and find out how they are already helping North East entrepreneurs to grow their businesses.
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@brewindolphin British Business Bank
With decades of experience in delivering workplace technology solutions, Agilico make work easy for more than 11,000 customers across the UK, with a significant and growing presence in the North East. Helping organisations build agile working environments for their teams, Agilico’s trusted expertise spans managed print services, hosted telephony and invoice processing software, plus a host of supporting workplace capabilities. agilico.co.uk |
@we_are_guerilla Hilton Newcastle Gateshead Hotel
Business Durham
Guerilla
Business Durham can help your business thrive and achieve its goals in County Durham. They offer tailored one-to-one packages, identifying the right support through their range of programmes, funding to enable growth, and can make the introductions to the networks you need at every step of your business journey. businessdurham.co.uk |
Providing a range of specialist services and facilities to support your business needs, Newcastle University can harness their people, research excellence and infrastructure to help you find innovative solutions to real-world challenges. ncl.ac.uk/work-with-us | @uniofnewcastle
With innovative and versatile event spaces in a beautiful location on the banks of the River Tyne, Hilton Newcastle Gateshead hotel offers an inspiring setting for corporate events, meetings and conferences. hilton.com | @hilton J&B Recycling J&B Recycling is at the forefront of waste management and recycling in the UK. They deliver kerbside waste processing services for local authorities and provide waste collection and recycling services to businesses, hospitals and universities across the region. jbrecycling.co.uk | @jbrecycling Lumo Lumo works in partnership with businesses to identify opportunities for innovation funding. Their vision is to make the UK the best place for business by empowering growth through innovation. Do you have a R&D strategy that ensures your company will be sustainable for years to come? lumo.tax | @lumotax Newcastle University
The British Business Bank are the UK’s economic development bank and here to help your business find a way, with free financial tools and expert information. They’re experts in small business finance and work with a broad range of partners to help businesses like yours, whether you’re a start-up, an established business or you’re looking to grow. british-business-bank.co.uk/finance-hub | @britishBbank
Celebrating 20 years in business, Guerilla is the award-winning brand communications agency that delivers clear thinking and creativity to achieve revolutionary results. Working with businesses across the globe, Guerilla guides clients through complex media landscapes, creating high impact and engaging marketing communications that are designed to deliver the optimum return on investment. guerilla.co.uk |
Agilico
@teamagilico Brewin Dolphin Brewin Dolphin is a leading investment management and financial advice firm working closely with the business community in the North East. They specialise in assisting business owners and entrepreneurs to grow, protect and make the most of their personal wealth, as well as advising on taxation, company exits and other fundamental business issues. brewin.co.uk |
@_businessdurham
Exhibitors
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University of Sunderland Whether you are looking for business advice, new employees, training for your workforce or access to world-class technical facilities and expertise, the University of Sunderland’s enterprise and innovation team can assist. @sunderlandunisunderland.ac.uk/more/enterprise-innovation
Tees Valley Business can join the dots between your business and the support you need. Whatever stage of your growth journey, you can access tailored one-to-one support, specialist programmes, events, and much more to help achieve your business goals. Established by the Tees Valley Combined Authority and Tees Valley Mayor, support is impartial and fully funded for SMEs based in the Tees Valley. teesvalleybusiness.com | @teesvalley_biz
Wander Films Wander Films is a video production and marketing company known for creating next-level visual content for brands to #beatthescroll™. The team is made up of filmmakers, social media managers, vfx/gfx artists, project managers and editors. Wander is a Pact Future30 company and was recently listed in the prestigious Forbes 30 Under 30 list. wander-films.co.uk | @wander_films_uk Ward Hadaway With more than 450 staff and over 80 partners, Ward Hadaway is one of the UK's top 75 law firms with a reputation for quality, innovation and a partner-led commitment to client service excellence. wardhadaway.com | @wardhadaway Week2Week Week2Week Serviced Apartments have been providing an alternative to hotel accommodation in the North East for over 20 years. They support clients to move safely around the UK and overseas for business and leisure stays. Whether your team travels for projects or relocating personnel, from staycations to isolation, book and stay with us. week2weekservicedapartments.com | @w2week
Teesside University
Teesside University's business team can help your company to make the most of all the knowledge, insights and networks that Teesside University has to offer. tees.ac.uk/sections/business |
@teessideuni UMi Wherever you are on your business journey, UMi takes the hard work out of finding and using the best information, expertise and finance, so you and your business can do more and go further. weareumi.co.uk | @weareuminetwork
The North East Growth Hub is the leading digital platform for North East businesses to access a range of business support, finance and funding, resource toolkits and events. Visit the Growth Hub and find the support you need to grow your business. northeastgrowthhub.co.uk | @growthhubne Northern Accelerator Northern Accelerator is an innovative collaboration between Durham, Newcastle, Northumbria, Sunderland and Teesside Universities. They recruit experienced business leaders to lead some of the most innovative spin-out businesses from the region’s world-class universities. northernaccelerator.org | @northern_acc Northumbria University Northumbria is a research-intensive modern university with a global reputation for academic excellence. Working collaboratively with businesses they conduct groundbreaking research, support the development of new and existing talent and provide access to world-class facilities. northumbria.ac.uk/business-services | @northumbriauni Qrious Qrious is an Experience Transformation Studio that helps businesses design customer-centric digital services and products that transform operations, accelerate growth, and improve productivity and profitability, empowering them to thrive in a fast-changing, digital-first world. qrious.co.uk | @weareqrious Tees Valley Business
I'm not one of those that is scared of spiders, heights or the dark. Starting to dance like my Dad maybe?
What was your first job? I washed dishes in an Indian restaurant. Eventually got promoted to waiter. I cook a demon curry these days. What is something most people don’t know about you? I did my degree in Film Studies and I'm a massive movie buff! I'm also a singer/songwriter and have been playing the guitar since I was eight. What would your specialist subject be on Mastermind? Ooooohhh tough one. Would have to be sports related. "Newcastle United players since 1990" or something like that. Who, dead or alive, would you like to have dinner with? Kurt Cobain, John Lennon, Elvis? Definitely someone from the music world. I've been lucky enough to have dinner with most of my sporting heroes. What are you most proud of? It's a cliché but without a doubt my kids. I've got three of them, a son and two daughters. So proud of them all. They're all ten times the person I ever was already. How do you unwind or deal with stress? Playing football really de-stresses. I try to play at least twice a week. If not, I'll get the guitar out or watch a movie. If you had a time machine, where would you go and why? 10 years into the future to see if Newcastle United were finally winning trophies. What is your biggest fear?
Pete Graves @PeteGravesTV
Q&A
OUR HOST
GravesPete
12 | FORTUNE FAVOURS THE BRAVE Born and bred in Northumberland, Pete began his broadcasting career volunteering at Radio Tyneside in Newcastle General Hospital before moving to Metro Radio as a trainee journalist. It was here he had his first taste of sports commentary, covering Newcastle United news, and where his career in sports journalism began. His talent, enthusiasm and passion led him to Century FM where he joined as their Head of Sport. TV soon came calling and Pete joined ITV Tyne Tees as a Sports Reporter before securing his dream move to Sky when he was 26. Now a journalist and presenter for Sky Sports, he is one of the most recognisable faces on the network, currently hosting the Breakfast Show. He is also known for his appearances on Deadline Day where he hosts the Transfer Show and his award-winning podcast “Transfer Talk”. Away from the studio, Pete spends his time with his wife and three kids and remains a huge supporter of North East sports.
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OBERuckerChrissie
Estée Lauder, I so admire how she built her family business all those years ago from one lipstick upwards.
Chrissie
I had an incredibly valuable five years on some of the best British magazines. I loved my time at Conde Nast and Hearst. It taught me how to plan and organise a shoot, how to write copy and I always loved being in the art department watching how the pages were laid out. I always think probably I was a frustrated Art Director. It taught me how to create a consistent handwriting but always to make sure each issue was new and exciting.
Over the years, the range has grown enormously to include fragrances, clothing and childrenswear, but what hasn’t changed is the values on which it was founded upon: a passion for the colour white, great design and a fantastic quality that is still affordable.
Supported by What was your first job?
My mum found Rob Hoekstra my riding teacher who lived locally, he was 19, I was his first pupil ever and he went on to become the chef d’equipe for the Olympic team in later life.
Who, dead or alive, would you like to have dinner with?
Coco Chanel, who created the most beautiful brand that never dates. Harry Selfridge of Selfridges, because I love how he had such a passion for finding all the latest must haves, creating theatre and a great experience in his store. Robert Redford, because I loved him in The Horse Whisperer! What are you most proud of?
Using a £6,000 inheritance from her grandmother, and the skills she’d learned from her training in couture design and the magazine world, Chrissie launched The White Company from her kitchen table in 1994 in a 12-page mail order catalogue which she posted to friends and family.
I rode competitively as a child - I used to be able to ride a very tidy dressage test and see a good stride!
Q&A
Chrissie Rucker OBE
I feel so incredibly proud of the incredible team we have at The White Company because I couldn't do it without them. How do you unwind or deal with stress?
Working closely with charity partners is something Chrissie and The White Company have always been passionate about, which has led to the creation of The White Heart Foundation. Founded in 2014, the White Heart Foundation currently partners with three exceptionally worthy charities: The Prince’s Trust, St Mungo’s and Samaritans with the aim of helping vulnerable people build a brighter future. Chrissie is also a gold patron of The Prince’s Trust and the founding gold patron of the #ChangeAGirlsLife campaign for Women Supporting Women at The Prince’s Trust.
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The White Company @thewhitecompany
She’s turned the simplest of ideas –white cotton bedlinen – into a multimillion-pound business, but to fully understand Chrissie Rucker’s incredible achievement, you only need to look back to 1994 when, unable to find high-quality, affordable and beautiful white linens, she took it upon herself to source and sell her own.
I love a candlelit bath at the end of a hectic day a favourite being our Spa candle and visit Yvonne Martin or Sarah Chapman for facials in London.
The most important thing I learnt was that often simple and a little more pared down was a look I really lovedand was also much easier to achieve! What is something most people don’t know about you?
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Q&A
Eran Fine
The doors of our homes, our fridges, our cars, our smart meters, traffic lights… everything is connected, the vulnerabilities are endless, and no one knows this better than serial entrepreneur Eran Fine. Eran’s career has seen him launch and sell five tech companies, author 22 patents and become one of the most celebrated tech personalities of our time. Having won multiple awards and accolades for his work, including Personality of the Year 2020 by the American Cyber Awards, it’s hard to believe his career began in television where he was responsible for producing some of Israel’s best-known satire and entertainment Sinceprogramming.leavingthe world of television, Eran has developed a track record for combining design thinking with innovation to solve real-world problems. His previous business - OREE, a LED planar light manufacturer - was born out of a wisdom tooth extraction and later sold for $10 million while his current business NanoLock, a cybersecurity specialist, is on track to become a tech unicorn. Based in Israel, a cybersecurity powerhouse at the centre of a $82 billion market, NanoLock is helping to combat one of the greatest threats facing businesses today and as CEO, Eran is paving the way towards a safer world for all. Add to this Eran’s work with CImagine (which was later sold to Snapchat) and you start to gather a full picture of Eran’s impressive feats.
Supported by
NanoLock @nanolocksec
What was your first job? I created hand drawn animation movies presented using a shoebox and a lamp to people at my mom’s work. What is something most people don’t know about you? I cry easily when I’m alone. What would your specialist subject be on Mastermind? History. Sharks. Science Fiction books. Who, dead or alive, would you like to have dinner with? Christopher Nolan and Cordwainer Smith. I like smart people and I like people with outstanding imagination. What are you most proud of? That my kids have a decent sense of humour. How do you unwind or deal with stress? I go to sleep or scuba dive. If you had a time machine, where would you go and why? If I can change something, Europe of 1938. If I can’t change, Rome, but as a long leaved emperor. What is your biggest fear? Being executed, publicly, naked. Detailed enough?
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FineEran
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WhiteLiam
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In a North East gym in 2015 trainee doctor Will Breakey and restaurateur Josh Rose developed the idea for a range of great tasting all-natural condiments and Dr. Will’s was born. At the time, Will, a self-declared ‘condiment fiend’, was trying to get in shape for his wedding and had discovered just how much salt, sugar and fat the leading condiment brands included within their recipes. Knowing they could achieve a better taste using natural sweeteners, Will and Josh created their own ketchup and took it to the Jesmond Food Market where they sold 200 bottles in one day. To ramp up production, Will and Josh went looking for finance and met Liam White, an investment banker, who was so inspired by their vision, he left his job to join them as a co-founder. Fast forward to 2022 and Dr. Will’s can be found in Tesco, Ocado and Waitrose as well as health food retailers and luxury department stores. Travel abroad and you may even spot their sauces in one of the seven countries they export to! From ketchup to mayonnaise, hot sauce to Caesar dressing, Dr. Will’s range of products includes no added sugar, preservatives or additives meaning it’s better tasting, better for you and better for the planet.
Liam White Dr. Will’s @doctor_wills
Supported by What is something most people don’t know about you? I was UK Junior 1500m champion. What would your specialist subject be on Mastermind? Drake songs. Who, dead or alive, would you like to have dinner with? Elon Musk. What are you most proud of? Growing Dr. Will’s to where it is now, escaping investment banking and making the Forbes 30 Under 30 list. How do you unwind or deal with stress? Getting outdoors – often cycling – and trying to have a definite end point at the end of the work day. If you had a time machine, where would you go and why? A few hundred years forward – I love tech, space and would be keen to see if we’d made it to Mars! What is your biggest fear? The business not reaching its full potential. Q&A
@dannybent Voted one of the 100 happiest people in the UK, and one of the 50 most inspirational people in London, Danny Bent’s day job is making people happy. His mission in life is to inspire people to do more, to give more, and to live more… to be the best version of Settingthemselves.anexample
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Q&A Supported by
of what amazing things can happen if you follow your dreams, on his 31st birthday he set out to ride across the world and cycled 9000 miles from London to India to raise money for Action Aid. It wasn’t easy – from being held at gunpoint to waking up with maggots in his beard, the journey pushed Danny to his limit yet he remained optimistic and humbled by the kindness of strangers he met on the trip, some often inviting him into their houses for no cost other than a Realisingsmile.he can help others through sport, Danny created One Run for Boston, a 3328.2 mile relay run across the US which raised over $500,000 for those affected by the Boston Marathon bombings. Then he founded Project Awesome (a positive community fitness group offering exercise classes to Londoners for free) and organised The London Relay, an event spanning 4,000 miles, 30 days and nights, 2,500 runners and one baton – a new world record that raised £50,000 for charity and brought the community together. While commonly known as the ‘happiness guru’, Danny is also an award-winning author and journalist, a Guinness World Record holder, celebrated adventurer and community leader who has one simple yet ambitious goal: to help others ‘make magic happen’. What was your first job? I worked in an Argos catalogue factory. The highlight was having to nudge each page an extra centimetre so that it lands in a tray. All day! What is something most people don’t know about you? I love life drawing. Being the model or doing the drawing. What would your specialist subject be on Mastermind? Literally would fail on all fronts. My mind is all taken up with the present moment in time and very little is dedicated to memory. Who, dead or alive, would you like to have dinner with? Chris Evans - I love that man. He was the person that I’ve felt most connection with throughout my life. What are you most proud of? Organising a running relay from LA to Boston to raise money for the people affected by the Boston Marathon bombings.
How do you unwind or deal with stress? Running, playing piano, and swimming in cold water! When you’re in ice water it’s very hard to think about anything other than “Get me the hell out of here!” - it’s my own meditation. If you had a time machine, where would you go and why? Maybe I’d go back and peep out at the dinosaurs and disappear in again before they noticed me. But really I’m not really interested going back and speaking to past self - I love the journey I’ve been on. What is your biggest fear? I think my biggest fear would be to be waking up each morning to to live a life I wasn’t excited about.
Danny Bent Happiness Guru
BentDanny
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BarrattJuliet
I would want to sit and laugh all night so Melissa McCarthy or Ricky Gervais. Plus, I think they would eat quickly so that is a bonus too.
How do you unwind or deal with stress? I don’t get stressed really. Most things have a solution and most things that cause me stress are my doing or my choice anyway. I like listening to music or podcasts and walking my dog. I spend a lot of time thinking on the treadmill.
Juliet Barratt Grenade @grenadeofficial
Q&A
If you had a time machine, where would you go and why? I would never want to wish time away but I’m not a settler so would be intrigued to see where I am in 10-15 years’ time – I have no idea. Also, I have good girlfriends so it will hopefully be like Sex and the City (but in an old people’s home!).
A former secondary school teacher, Juliet had enjoyed a career in education, charity and training before her passion for health and fitness led her to co create the iconic weight-loss product ‘Thermo Detonator’ under the Grenade brand.
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When husband and wife team Juliet and Alan Barratt decided to disrupt the sports nutrition industry, self-funded and with a spare bedroom for an office, they had no idea their hobby would become an iconic international brand snapped up by Cadbury’s owner Mondelēz in 2021 for £200m.
What is your biggest fear? Saying I’ll do something amazing, take that trip, see that friend tomorrow and tomorrow never coming.
What was your first job?
I started making cricket teas in the local sports club when I was 13. They weren’t great to be honest! What is something most people don’t know about you? I have an identical twin sister. I am 21 minutes older than her. What would your specialist subject be on Mastermind? Farrow & Ball paint. Who, dead or alive, would you like to have dinner with?
Entering into a fiercely competitive market with distinctive packaging and a logo featuring its namesake, Grenade made waves in the industry, bringing a fresh approach to sports nutrition. The strategy worked. Grenade started to grow at an accelerated rate, featuring on The Sunday Times FastTrack 100 list for six consecutive years, while their Carb Killa product became the UK’s best-selling protein bar. Over the years, the product range expanded to include protein spreads, drinks and cookies. As a result, Juliet and Alan saw annual revenues increase to over £50m before selling to Mondelēz last year. Credited with turning a sports nutrition brand into a mainstream confectionary giant, Juliet now combines her love for education with her FMCG expertise to support other growing businesses, including LoveRaw, Mr Free’d and Hip Pop, in addition to many other young entrepreneurs and start-ups.
24 | FORTUNE FAVOURS THE BRAVE
FORTUNE#NEentrepreneursFAVOURSTHEBRAVE | 25
26 | FORTUNE FAVOURS THE BRAVE Over 45 North East entrepreneurs have completed our Scale-up Leader’s Academy since 2017, reporting an average of 121% growth since Experiencecompletion.similar success. Register your interest for our next cohort and build your blueprint for business growth. The facts Intake 15 entrepreneurs Dates Spring 2023 Location Venues across North East Participant Founders of growing profile North businessesEast with ambition to scale Cost £3,000 + VAT (funding may be Plusavailable)yourticket to next year’s conference! To register your interest for our next cohort visit entrepreneursforum.net/sula Boost your business growth by
Scale-up success for Dan Parker of Aspect Facades
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Dan Parker dreamed of owning his own business from the days when he was an employee. He had a vision of how companies could be run better, both for the business and for its staff. So in 2017, with his business partner Andrew, he launched Aspect Facades, making his dream a reality. Dan succeeded in his aim and Aspect Facades, which specialises in the design, supply, installation and maintenance of cladding and roofing systems, became a place where employees thrived and enjoyed being. However, alongside that, the business grew faster and bigger than Dan could ever have expected – something he and his business partner admit they were not quite ready Joiningfor.the Forum’s Scale-up Leader’s Academy in 2020, Dan worked with coach Ian Kinnery to build a blueprint for Aspect’s future success. “I took part in the Scale-up Leader’s Academy and soon realised how much influence a business coach could “Workinghave.with Ian rekindled the excitement I had, because it felt that he was an outlet, a release from the pressure, as well as the help that I needed to organise things a bit more and plan for growth in a way that was less “Afterstressful.thefirst few sessions, I realised how much of an influence he was going to have on me personally, not just on the business.” As Dan grew as a leader, Aspect did too; turnover trebled in the space of a year and Dan’s achievements were recognised at the 2021 North East Entrepreneurial Awards where we won the Emerging Talent award. To find out more about the Scale-up Leader’s Academy, and how it can help your business’ future growth, visit entrepreneursforum.net/sula
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