Ideas

We won’t make you give it back, Steven Thai! 🏆🤣 I remember the first time I properly met Steven at one of our smaller events. He came up to me, and when I asked him what they did, he simply said, “I do prawns.” 🍤 Little did I know at the time, that was just the tip of an incredible story! I first connected with Steven through the Great British Entrepreneur Awards & Community where we celebrated his remarkable successes. Since then, we’ve had the chance to connect at several of our events and dinners, and I’ve been endlessly inspired by Steven’s journey. Beyond his incredible business achievements, Steven’s personal story is both compelling and deeply moving. When I last saw him, Steven shared how, as a young child, he and his family fled Vietnam to escape persecution. At just 18 months old, they became part of the Vietnamese boat people, refugees seeking safety after the Vietnam War. Their journey led them to Runcorn, Cheshire, where Steven’s family worked tirelessly to rebuild their lives. Together with his father, Steven built Ocean King Ltd an Asian restaurant wholesaler, now a multi-million-pound business. But what’s most inspiring is the story behind that success. Steven opened up about the relentless work ethic he witnessed from his parents, which as a child left him feeling resentful. He rarely saw them at school events or family holidays. But a business trip back to Vietnam with his parents changed everything. It made him truly understand the sacrifices they made, risking their lives for a better future. Their bravery and resilience now fuel his own mission to create opportunities and enrich lives. Steven Thai, you continue to inspire us all, and your story is a powerful reminder of the strength and determination that underpins true entrepreneurial success. 🌟

An incredibly special evening last night with 20 Great British Entrepreneur Awards & Community and UK Fast Growth 50 Index alumni in Cardiff. This was one of our VIP Hall of Fame dinners in partnership with UBS where we recognise individuals who've not only achieved remarkable entrepreneurial success, but are also passionate about supporting the next generation and the entrepreneurial ecosystem. Last night we inducted Henry Engelhardt into the Hall of Fame. Henry is the Co-Founder and former CEO of Admiral Group. They’re one of Britain’s most valuable companies – currently valued at over £7 billion – and also the only FTSE 100 company in Wales. Henry is such a wonderful storyteller and had the whole room hanging off every word. Most success stories take in their fair share of growing pains and Admiral’s was no different. But Henry says if you understand how your role as founder will always evolve, you’ll surpass the setbacks. I'm taking a few days off next week and I cannot wait to dive into Henry's book. 📖 "Be a Better Boss" has been reviewed as "the secret recipe of how Henry created one of the top places to work in the world and a FTSE 100 company from scratch where fun, camaraderie, ethics, diversity and results go hand-in-hand and, in fact, reinforce each other"

Exciting delivery of wristbands today Ideas Fest HQ Drop a 😎 emoji below if we'll see you there :-D 9 DAYS TO GO!!

One of the perks of the job is getting to know amazing entrepreneurs and one of those I've recently met but really hit it off with is Stuart Trevor, perhaps best known for founding All Saints. 🎁 If you have an interest in sustainable fashion make sure you make it to the end of this post as we may have something special for you, but first I thought I'd share with you Stuarts entrepreneurial journey 👇 In 1983, Stuart Trevor was a finalist in the Paul Smith/Mont Blanc competition and in 1985 he won designer of the year at The Smirnoff Fashion awards “Menswear Day”. Aged 19 he became the first designer and main buyer for REISS. At 28 he founded All Saints and many of the clothes that continue to feature every week in the top 10 bestseller list of the high-street brand today, were designed by Trevor himself over 20 years ago. Whenever Stuart was asked to start a new fashion brand he replied, “the world doesn't need a new clothing company”. Then he thought to himself - hold it...what about a clothing company that doesn't produce any clothes? This led to his latest venture STUART TREVOR “Creativity to me has always been all about doing more with what we have already. The world has scarce resources, yet the fashion industry acts as if there is an unlimited supply of material. It's a disaster for our world." I'm of course delighted that Stuart is joining us at Ideas Fest but here's where it gets really special...... 🤩 Stuart Trevor is sponsoring the attendance of a number of amazing sustainable fashion entrepreneurs to attend this two day festival as his guests. 🤩 If you’re running a business within the sustainable fashion arena and want to join us at Ideas Fest, comment 'me please' below! Our team will add you to the list and get in touch if you're successful in securing your spot as one of Stuart Trevor's special guests. Don’t miss this incredible opportunity to connect, learn, and be inspired by industry leaders.

Been quiet for a while – completely knocked out with Covid (suspected), but I’m back with a bumper Friday update for Ideas Fest! So much has happened in the last week, and I can't wait to share it with you all. 🎸 First up, we’ve confirmed one of the most fun live bands I’ve ever seen – The Showhawk Duo! These guys perform an acoustic rave, playing 90s dance classics on acoustic guitars. It’s incredibly entertaining and so much fun – you won’t want to miss it! 🎹 Here's a wild card, we’re kicking off the festival with a school assembly. Yes, you read that right! James Partridge, who you may have seen at Glastonbury, will bring his school assembly bangers to Ideas Fest. Imagine standing in a field with hundreds of entrepreneurs singing “Give me oil in your lamp” – it’s unique, I know, but what better way to break down barriers and have fun? We did say this is like no other business event. 📈 We’ve also confirmed the incredible Richard Harpin, who will be interviewed by fellow North East powerhouse Sophie Milliken MBE. Richard will share the 8 secrets to building a £Billion business. From his first venture at 14 to the global success of HomeServe, Richard’s insights are invaluable. This is a must-see for anyone serious about business growth. 🤩 And guess who else is joining us? Simon Squibb, the social media sensation! We've had so many messages since he appeared on the website! He’ll be opening one of our stages in conversation with Calvin Eden about the importance of dreams and purpose. Plus, he’ll be taking business pitches throughout the festival – a fantastic opportunity for entrepreneurs to gain exposure or even investment. 🥑 On the food front, we’ve got one of my absolute favourites – the epic Guac Shack brought to you by Tom Walker, Gaz Booth, and the team. They’ll be serving their amazing guac and Holy Moly dips, with a rooftop that’s bound to be a prime spot at Ideas Fest. 🦹♀️ We’re also thrilled to welcome the phenomenal Emma Sayle who will be grilled by Polly from Dirty Mother Pukka. Emma will blow your mind with her matter of fact, feminist driven attitude towards scaling successful businesses, taking risks, taking on the establishment, smashing the patriarchy, and all the while raising a young family. The secret to her success? Be your own number 1 priority. Inspiring doesn’t even cut it. 📣 We also have a handful of trading or showcase opportunities left. Whether you need a tabletop option or your own gazebo, get in touch to secure your space! 📣 This is not a drill – hotel rooms on site are running soooo low! If you want to stay at the luxury Pendley Manor with access to the pool, sauna, and late-night bar post Ideas Fest, book now! And finally, how's this for unique? Bringing the colour to Ideas Fest we're sure you'll enjoy spotting the roaming Peacocks 🦚 at Pendley Manor Hotel!