James Ashton is a financial writer and commentator as well as a popular event host, conference facilitator, panel curator and moderator. A former senior newspaper editor James has written extensively on the UK economy, business, leadership and technology and interviewed hundreds of company leaders in a 20-year career. Expertise Read more about James Ashton […]
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Clare Bailey
The Retail Champion Clare Bailey is one of the most well-known and respected retail and customer service experts in the UK. Clare is a champion for the continued success of small and medium independent retailers on the high street. Her knowledge about consumer matters is unrivalled in the UK. To inquire about Clare please contact us […]
Nicki Chapman
Nicki Chapman is now best known for presenting such programmes as the BBC’s Wanted Down Under and Escape to the Country. Instantly recognisable and hugely likeable, Nicki’s is in constant demand as a TV presenter and radio host.
A gifted speaker and highly skilled event host, Nicki brings a real sparkle to every event. She is still heralded as one of the music business’s best known PR’s working with Bowie, Take That and The Spice Girls amongst others
Tony Banks
A philanthropic, multi millionaire and award winning businessman Tony is the Founder and Chairman of Scotland’s fastest growing residential care home provider Balhousie Care Group which has an annual turnover of 100 million pounds.
Tony bought his first care home in 1991 and in 20 years he has skillfully expanded from that one original property with 31 beds, to now owning 22 care homes providing residential care to over 750 residents. He also owns a large pharmacy and a building firm.
He passionately supports issues such as long term care of the elderly, enterprise and mental health issues of war veterans.
Tony first hit our screens when he featured in one of most memorable C4 ‘Secret Millionaire’ in 2010 and the subsequent Secret Millionaire Revisited. He also travelled to Argentina for BBC Scotland who filmed him returning a Trumpet to a former Argentinean prisoner of war.
A former Para who served in the Falklands, he was made Honorary Colonel of 71 Engineer Regiment in 2012.
A regular contributor to the UK media on a variety of issues, he recently launched WW2videomemories.com to collate the memories of elderly relatives and friends before they die and he also is developing a number of partnerships within his care homes including a project with the Stroke Association called ‘Life after Stroke’.
An impressive keynote speaker and author of Storming The Falklands (Pub 2012) he is a keen football fan, loves flying helicopters and has bought himself a ticket 200 on Virgin Galactic.
Kirsty Henshaw
Healthy Food producer Kirsty Henshaw is passionate about educating people about nutrition and has created a fabulous range of ready made meals.
She fist came to our attention when she delivered the most memorable, emotional and successful pitch ever seen on Dragon’s Den in July 2010.
The then 24 year old single mum electrified the Den with her passion, commitment and gritty determination to succeed and she became one of the youngest entrepreneurs to receive investment on the show securing a 65,000 pound investment from Dragons, Peter Jones and Duncan Bannatyne, in return for a 30% stake in Kirsty’s Freedom, her frozen dessert business.
Just three years later in 2013 she was able to buy them out and is now embarking on expansion overseas.
An inspirational, confident ‘can-do’ young woman, Kirsty is passionate about nutrition, she enjoys educating people about why healthy diets is essential for everyone and she is in much demand as a speaker and media contributor.
Her speeches are about her entrepreneurial journey so far and what she has discovered about healthy food along the way. Now supplying all Sainsburys and Budgens with her healthy meals range Kirsty emphasises the importance of building great relationships with the people around you.
Kirsty is very focused on building the Kirsty’s Freedom brand and is consolidating her position as one of the most inspirational young businesswomen in the country.
Sue Hayward
From Sky News to BBC Your Money and Radio 2’s Jeremy Vine Show to BBC Breakfast Sue is a regular money guest on both television and radio. From discussing the country’s economy while on a construction site for BBC Breakfast to sharing her tips on ways to cut the cost of car insurance on Sky News Sunrise Sue is equally at home in the studio or on location.
Sue’s known for her friendly and practical approach when talking money and consumer issues and always has plenty of moneysaving tips to share.
Sue has a wealth of experience behind her and has written for nearly every magazine or newspaper on the market from the Independent on Sunday, Sunday Times and Daily Express to more recently the Sun, Guardian and Observer. After writing her first money column for Bella magazine Sue’s since contributed to numerous women’s magazines including Prima, Essentials, Woman, Woman & Home, Choice and Good Housekeeping along with having her own weekly Money Talk column in My Weekly.
An established international author Sue’s written two books; ‘How To Get The Best Deal’ a pocket friendly book packed with savvy ways to get more power for your pound and ‘Women Leading’ which was translated into both Chinese and Spanish