December 12, 2011

Theo Paphitis and other ‘Guest Speakers’ talk to 1,400 Students at SAVILES Hall in Leeds

Theo Paphitis and other ‘Guest Speakers’ talk to 1,400 Students at SAVILES Hall in Leeds about what it takes to become a successful entrepreneur…Hear what they had to say;

When self-made millionaire and Dragons Den star Theo Paphitis stepped onto the stage at SAVILES Hall, Leeds, it is as a dragon of an altogether friendlier temperament.

Gone is the steely gaze that makes contestants on the show shake in their shoes and the rapier cut and thrust that ruthlessly exposes flaws in a business proposal.

Instead, he beams benevolently on the 1,400+ audience as he promotes the extraordinary BA Honours degree in Enterprise Development at Huddersfield University, nicknamed the ‘Pracademic’. Theo has become a huge fan of the revolutionary new course and shares with the audience real life experiences from Wedge Wellys and Magic Whiteboard.

Claire Young and Professor John Thompson  also give their account of what you are likely to face on the journey to become a truly successful entrepreneur.

Theo Paphitis is one of the UK’s most high profile businessmen. His empire spans retail, property, finance and consumer goods. He is Chairman of Rymans Stationary and Boux Avenue which specializes in ladies lingerie.

Through his appearances on Dragons’ Den, Theo has advised many young entrepreneurs and invested in several innovative businesses and brands. The Paphitis Charitable Trust distributes all of his fees from TV appearances, speeches and his book to causes close to his heart and charities associated with children.

Claire Young: Apprentice Finalist, Motivational Speaker & Coach and Social Enterprise Champion…

Since appearing on The Apprentice, Claire has become involved in a number of business ventures (from setting up a list of School Speakers to becoming one herself). In the past six months Claire tells me she has “Experienced a steep learning curve in social enterprise” as she prepares to launch Girls Out Loud. Claire says “My business partner, Jane Kenyon, and I aim to raise the aspirations of young girls between the ages of 13 and 18. We facilitate intervention programmes in schools, providing teens with much needed support and guidance…and our overall measurable outcomes are; keep girls out of the NEET group, improve exam qualifications, and reduce teen pregnancies”…Hear what she had to say to at SAVILES Hall

Neil Westwood; Dragon slayer and Managing Director of Magic Whiteboard…

Magic Whiteboard allows you to create a whiteboard from a roll – anywhere in seconds! His product combines the best bits of both a flipchart and a whiteboard.

He talks at Saviles Hall about life after Dragons Den and the success he has enjoyed with Magic Whiteboard.

Sarah Longthorn & Laura Booth; Dragon slayers and Directors of Wedge Wellys…

They not only managed to secure funding from retail mogul Theo Paphitis, but have a website that is peaking at over 100 orders a day and turnover this year is set to be nearly £750,000. The business success is down largely to a savvy understanding of the core Wedge Wellys customer.

They talk about the difficulties of getting started and the support network they needed to make Wedge Wellys the success it is to date.

John Thompson Is Roger M Bale Professor of Entrepreneurship at the University of Huddersfield. Whilst Director of the Business School Enterprise Network, he started the Huddersfield Business Generator and the on-campus Business Mine. The remit of the Enterprise Network is to practise, research, teach and promote entrepreneurship and enterprise.

John talks to students about the course in general and life as an entrepreneur… he also gives several first year students the opportunity to discuss why they chose the course.