The Leading Speakers Bureau

Highly Successful Businesswoman and Entrepreneur

Michelle Mone OBE is the founder of successful brand, Ultimo, the UK’s leading designer lingerie brand. Listed as one of the top 3 female entrepreneurs in the UK, Michelle has built a hugely successful career on an incredibly simple concept: giving today’s women what they want. Ultimo currently supplies Debenhams, Selfridges, Next and Figleaves along with a number of independent lingerie stores. Michelle also appeared as a contestant on Comic Relief Does the Apprentice with Sir Alan Sugar.

Michelle received an OBE for services to business in the 2010 New Years Honours List

[expand title=”In detail”] Since launching, Ultimo has established a huge profile and loyal customer base within the UK and contracts with a string of stunning, high-profile models and celebrities. Over the years Michelle’s business has gone from strength-to-strength, developing beyond the original umbrella of Ultimo to encompass eight patented inventions and brands including Ultimo Black Label, Ultimo Shapewear, Ultimo Swimwear, Miss Ultimo and partner lines including Diamond Boutique for Tesco, Adore Moi for Debenhams and Michelle for George for Asda, named after her. Michelle has also expanded into womenswear with Ultimo Couture – a line of luxury evening dresses.[/expand]

[expand title=”What she offers you”]Michelle carefully explains to audiences the secrets of her success and her presentations are an invaluable source of useful information and tremendous inspiration. An accomplished speaker, Michelle is in great demand by organisations keen to hear her story and to mimic her incredible success.[/expand]

[expand title=”How she presents”]Michelle’s presentations are, like her bras, an “uplifting” experience. She is straight talking and gives a genuine down to earth personal account of how she built up her company. She speaks passionately about her struggle to succeed against all odds, shares funny anecdotes and provides practical advice to budding entrepreneurs.[/expand]

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Former Chairman of Channel 4 & Entrepreneur

Luke Johnson is currently Chairman of Risk Capital Partners Ltd, a private equity company. He is also the owner of several other companies including Giraffe Restaurants, Patisserie Valerie and APT Controls. In May 2010 Luke became a strategic investor in Beer & Partners, the UK’s largest business investment agency. He is also Chairman of Fast Track, the UK’s leading networking events and research company, focusing on Britain’s top-performing private companies.

“One of the leading business entrepreneurs”

[expand title=”In detail”] Luke became Chairman of Channel 4 Television Corporation in January 2004 where he appointed a new CEO, restructured the board and saw the organisation enjoy record ratings, revenues and surplus. Luke also writes a weekly column for the Financial Times and wrote for the Sunday Telegraph for eight years. He has owned companies in recruitment, dentistry and retailing and was Chairman of Pizza Express. Luke worked as a media analyst at stockbroker Grieveson Grant (subsequently Kleinwort Benson Securities).[/expand]

[expand title=”What he offers you”]As one of Britain’s leading business entrepreneurs, Luke shares his insights and perspectives about what it takes to be successful in business. He genuinely believes in helping businesses and especially in advancing the entrepreneurial spirit.[/expand]

[expand title=”How he presents”]A charismatic and charming speaker, Luke’s speeches are always cultured, entertaining and provocative. Luke is equally comfortable talking to sector-specific audiences, particularly those relating to his own interests i.e. the media, the restaurant trade and private equity. [/expand]

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Musician, Chef & “Dragon Slayer”

Levi Roots is the creator of ‘Reggae Reggae Sauce’ and one of the recent success stories from the BBC Entrepreneur programme, Dragon’s Den. His late entry into the culinary field came because of commitments to music. Levi was enjoying himself touring around the world, performing with icons such as James Brown, Dennis Brown, Michael Rose and Black Uhuru. He was nominated for a MOBO award in 1998 for his Free Your Mind album. He sang Happy Birthday to Nelson Mandela when the South African icon visited Brixton and used to play football with Bob Marley every Sunday in Battersea Park!

“Levi’s story is one of the most heart-warming business success stories to date”

[expand title=”In detail”] Levi Roots wowed the dragons with his Reggae-Reggae sauce, taken from his Jamaican grandmother’s recipe, with his unique ‘all singing’ marketing campaign and managed to secure an investment. He made the big time from producing his Reggae Reggae Sauce that won an exclusive contract in 2007 and was soon stocked in Sainsbury’s stores across Britain becoming the chain’s fastest ever selling product. Levi also released a new album and continues to feature regularly as a guest chef on cookery shows in addition to touring the country as a motivational speaker, encouraging young people to follow in his footsteps.[/expand]

[expand title=”What he offers you”]Levi famously sang about the virtues of his Reggae Reggae Sauce and became, without doubt, the most famous participant on the show. His success has meant that he has become a spokesperson for both Caribbean cuisine, as well as more generally for entrepreneurship amongst the black community. He has visited hundreds of schools to encourage young children to adopt a positive approach and to show that you can succeed from humble beginnings. He encourages his audiences to continue to strive towards their goals, passing on advice and anecdotes about the world of business.[/expand]

[expand title=”How he presents”]The most memorable contestant on Dragons’ Den, Levi has experienced a phenomenal rise to fame, however remains very down-to-earth and highly inspirational for his wide ranging audiences.[/expand]

Watch a video presentation of Levi Roots

Former Member of Boy Band JLS & Entrepreneur

JB Gill is a former member of the boy band JLS. The band successfully auditioned for the fifth series of The X Factor in 2008, going on to finish in second place. JB became an overnight star and the band have clocked up five number one singles, two BRIT awards, two MOBO awards, two best-selling books, and two double platinum selling albums. In December 2013, the band went their separate ways and JB plans to become a deer farmer in Scotland as part of the UK’s leading private mentoring organisation, Rockstar Youth who have added JB to their growing list of high profile backing their drive to get 18-30 year olds to capitalise on the government’s Start-up Loan initiative. He now owns and successfully runs a 10 acre farm in London.

“A young, highly successful and talented individual”

[expand title=”In detail”] Gill spent the first five years of his life living in Antigua, discovering his musical talent at a very early age. JLS star JB was born in London and his first love was rugby not singing. Playing for London Irish until he was 18, he came close to lining up at Twickenham. Studying Theology at Kings College in London while working in his mum’s office doing admin to earn cash, he was invited to join JLS in 2006. Originally called UFO – Unique Famous Outrageous – the guys wanted Jonathan in the band for his musical talent and keen ear for harmonies.[/expand]

[expand title=”What he offers you”]JB provides insights and anecdotes from his career in music. He draws on the lessons he learned as part of a successful group to show audiences the importance of teamwork and how to achieve our own personal goals. He is also in demand for appearances and awards events.[/expand]

[expand title=”How he presents”]JB’s relaxed, friendly and open manner comes across at any event where he enjoys sharing his experiences and enthusiasm for music and business with his audiences.[/expand]

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Entrepreneur and Award- Winning Business Woman

Hilary Devey is the Inspirational Founder, Chief Executive and Chairman of The Pall-Ex Group. Today, as Chief Executive of the UK’s No. 1 palletised freight distribution network, Hilary is an inspirational role model for both male and female entrepreneurs. Having started from nothing, she now leads a network which boasts a combined turnover approaching £100m and serves numerous blue chip customers. In 2011, she joined the panel on BBC Two’s business programme Dragons Den.

“Failure was never an option…..”

[expand title=”In detail”] Hilary gained her wealth of experience in the distribution sector, having worked at Littlewood’s. She then spent seven years in the retail distribution sector at TNT before leaving to set up her own business. She has been recognised for her contribution to business with an honorary degree from the University of Leicester. She is also a regular on the public speaking circuit. She has featured in television programmes including Channel 4’s Secret Millionaire, she later appeared on The Business Inspector on Channel 5. [/expand]

[expand title=”What she offers you”]A hugely inspiring and motivating speaker, Hilary’s speeches demonstrate that skills learned as a daughter, wife and mother can indeed be seamlessly transferred to the Boardroom. She is an ardent supporter of women climbing the corporate ladder and passionate about enterprise. [/expand]

[expand title=”How she presents”]She shares her experiences and encouraging tips on running a business and combines it with straight talking advice and lots of humour.
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