ONE of the most diverse and fascinating speaker line-ups to grace a North East business stage are set to come together to inspire entrepreneurs this spring.
The Entrepreneurs' Forum has put together an inspirational programme for its annual Together We Can Take on the World business conference, taking place for the first time at BALTIC Centre for Contemporary Art, Gateshead, on May 15.
With speakers whose organisations operate locally, nationally and globally, the themes of the day will include starting from nothing, taking risks and making mistakes to having the courage to be a pioneer and how to sustain success.
The conference also gives delegates the chance to meet socially, gain knowledge, learn from the experience of others and share contacts during the day and afterwards at a post-conference drinks reception.
The speakers are:
• Caprice Bourret, the international model and TV personality, who eight years ago ploughed her own money into her By Caprice Lingerie business. Caprice finances, designs, models and markets the brand herself to major retail chains and independents in the UK, South Africa, the USA and Scandinavia. Since 2007 the brand has expanded into swimwear and sleepwear;
• Kresse Wesling MBE, co-founder of Elvis & Kresse, a business built on discovering, intercepting, reengineering, changing perceptions and creating something new. It started from Kresse rescuing decommissioned London Fire Brigade fire hoses that were destined for landfill. The business has gone on to turn 200 tonnes of waste material into bags, belts, wallets and home accessories since 2005;
• Paul Shoker, a global serial entrepreneur with 27 years’ experience in communications and new media. He is vice chairman and founder of VentureFund.com, a mentoring and funding enterprise, founder of benefitsPLUS, one of India's leading reward and recognition companies, and is a founding member and board director at Koovs.com, India’s leading online fashion forward catalogue based in London and New Delhi.
• Sir Tom Shebbeare, the chairman of Richard Branson's Virgin StartUp, which, following a pilot programme run by Virgin Money in the North East, is now being rolled out across the UK. Tom was the first employee and director of The Prince's Trust and now chairs a number of UK companies including the BAFTA winning Spring Films and Virgin Money Giving. He will talk about his experience of starting enterprises in the charitable, not-for-profit and commercial sectors and the critical importance of mentoring.
The spotlight will also shine on North East entrepreneurs when a panel of Ward Hadaway’s Fastest 50 high-growth local businesses take to stage to share their experiences and lessons learned.
With further speakers still to be announced, Forum executive director Nicola Short said: "Our not to be missed full-day business conference is the North East's biggest event dedicated to entrepreneurship and entrepreneurs and never fails to inspire.
"From launching a pioneering start-up to running a global corporation, our speakers will showcase the entrepreneurial journey and all the challenges and rewards it can bring at each stage.”
The conference starts at 9am on Thursday May 15 and costs £99 for Forum members and guests and £125 for non-members. To book, visit www.entrepreneursforum.net