Speakers
Event Facilitator - David McQueen:
The self-proclaimed Mr Magnificent, David is a Presenter on Channel 4’s hit education programme Vocation Vocation Vocation.
His roots are in youth coaching and mentoring, a role he continues to undertake. In addition, he is a global conference speaker on education issues and social enterprise. David’s business interests include educational workshops via his Milestone Unlimited training venture, visiting schools across Britain to deliver entertaining motivational speeches to audiences of teenagers; and Firstborn Media, a music concert and artist management company specialising in the gospel genre.
www.milestoneunltd.com
"Express Yourself" session leader - Katie Ledger:
Katie is a former BBC, ITN and Channel Five newsreader and, more recently, was a presenter on BBC’s Click technology news programme.
Now a founding Partner in Talent Network, Katie is a frequent facilitator and chair of major conferences, and undertakes consultancy work with blue-chip organisations including Microsoft and Sony. Furthermore, she is an expert communications coach, and will be running a session on how to communicate ideas in a sentence and in 60 seconds.
www.katieledger.com
"NetWORKing" session leader - Andy Lopata:
Entrepreneur Andy was one of the first people to recognise the importance of networking in businesses large and small. He set up Business Referral Exchange, a membership organisation that grew nationally and internationally for a number of years, before Andy sold the business in 2006.
In addition to his work with Business Referral Exchange, Andy has written two books: “Building a Business on Bacon and Eggs”, looking at how breakfast meetings can be the most productive networking forums; and “…And Death Came Third!”, looking at how death was third in a list of people’s biggest fears, after networking and public speaking.
Andy now runs online social business network Word of Mouse, which launched in 2007.
Andy will be running a networking session, giving a simple, light-hearted insight into how networking can WORK for anyone.
www.wordofmousenetwork.com
Keynote Speaker - Simon Woodroffe OBE:
Simon is the world famous founder of the Yo! Group, best known for the hugely successful global restaurant chain Yo! Sushi. In addition, Simon was a panellist on series one of the BBC2 entrepreneurship series Dragons’ Den.
One of the highest profile entrepreneurs of modern times, Simon has an entertaining approach to public speaking and believes firmly in the encouragement of enterprise skills in young people.
SKILL! founder Patrick Philpott has known Simon for several years, and it was in fact a conversation on the state of careers advice that inspired Patrick to develop the SKILL! initiative. Therefore, it’s fitting that Simon has a key position in the day’s events, delivering one of his superb motivational addresses to encourage continued learning and ambition amongst the students.
www.yocompany.biz
The self-proclaimed Mr Magnificent, David is a Presenter on Channel 4’s hit education programme Vocation Vocation Vocation.
His roots are in youth coaching and mentoring, a role he continues to undertake. In addition, he is a global conference speaker on education issues and social enterprise. David’s business interests include educational workshops via his Milestone Unlimited training venture, visiting schools across Britain to deliver entertaining motivational speeches to audiences of teenagers; and Firstborn Media, a music concert and artist management company specialising in the gospel genre.
www.milestoneunltd.com
"Express Yourself" session leader - Katie Ledger:
Katie is a former BBC, ITN and Channel Five newsreader and, more recently, was a presenter on BBC’s Click technology news programme.
Now a founding Partner in Talent Network, Katie is a frequent facilitator and chair of major conferences, and undertakes consultancy work with blue-chip organisations including Microsoft and Sony. Furthermore, she is an expert communications coach, and will be running a session on how to communicate ideas in a sentence and in 60 seconds.
www.katieledger.com
"NetWORKing" session leader - Andy Lopata:
Entrepreneur Andy was one of the first people to recognise the importance of networking in businesses large and small. He set up Business Referral Exchange, a membership organisation that grew nationally and internationally for a number of years, before Andy sold the business in 2006.
In addition to his work with Business Referral Exchange, Andy has written two books: “Building a Business on Bacon and Eggs”, looking at how breakfast meetings can be the most productive networking forums; and “…And Death Came Third!”, looking at how death was third in a list of people’s biggest fears, after networking and public speaking.
Andy now runs online social business network Word of Mouse, which launched in 2007.
Andy will be running a networking session, giving a simple, light-hearted insight into how networking can WORK for anyone.
www.wordofmousenetwork.com
Keynote Speaker - Simon Woodroffe OBE:
Simon is the world famous founder of the Yo! Group, best known for the hugely successful global restaurant chain Yo! Sushi. In addition, Simon was a panellist on series one of the BBC2 entrepreneurship series Dragons’ Den.
One of the highest profile entrepreneurs of modern times, Simon has an entertaining approach to public speaking and believes firmly in the encouragement of enterprise skills in young people.
SKILL! founder Patrick Philpott has known Simon for several years, and it was in fact a conversation on the state of careers advice that inspired Patrick to develop the SKILL! initiative. Therefore, it’s fitting that Simon has a key position in the day’s events, delivering one of his superb motivational addresses to encourage continued learning and ambition amongst the students.
www.yocompany.biz
