Entrepreneurs Forum

We are delighted to invite you to our fourth Chairman’s Dinner on September 7^th, to gather and enjoy the company of like-minded, entrepreneurial peers in a stimulating and confidential environment.

 

The sense of camaraderie, support and encouragement within the Forum creates a powerful force that has become increasingly valuable, and as many of us battle our way through the challenges brought on by the current economic climate, we're proud to count Forum colleagues as friends and continue to be inspired by the shared passion, energy, drive and vision.

 

As Julie Meyer said during our 2009 Annual Conference ‘entrepreneurs change the world’. And this year’s special guest speaker, Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year 2009 award winner, Richard Harpin certainly proves that’s true.

 

Share with us the compelling and inspiring story behind the creation of Homeserve - a story that started in Hexham, told by a man who began on his entrepreneurial journey tying flies for fishermen as a schoolboy and was a contemporary of Entrepreneurs' Forum board member, Graeme Lowdon.

 

More than ever this year’s Chairman’s Dinner will be an opportunity for debate and discussion as we’ve had the chance to digest the impact of the new coalition government’s plans for economic stability and growth.  

 

So with that in mind, we have invited along a businessman who has held various ministerial roles in Government, including a senior Government Whip, Her Majesty’s Paymaster General based in the Cabinet Office and as Sponsor Minister for Tyne and Wear.

 

Lord Michael Bates, Managing Director of Walton Bates Associates will share with us the progress and thoughts of the new Coalition Government and discuss how national policy is affecting the region's economic growth. Regardless of your politics, Michael’s succinct and honest insight into where the Government is heading and the issues it faces, gives us a timely and additional element to the evening. His experience as an MP, Deputy Chairman of the Conservative Party, Minister, Shadow Minister and Member of the House of Lords’ gives him a unique perspective on the workings of Westminster and Whitehall.

 

We’ll then move on to hear how Richard Harpin turned an emergency plumbing business backed by South Staffordshire Water into a multinational company with operations in the UK, Spain, France and the US, turning over more than half a billion pounds a year. Described by many as naturally gifted and a “born entrepreneur”, Richard broke the mould and transformed the business model when he created a business characterised by rapid growth, strong profitability, innovation and excellence in execution. He’ll also share his ambitious plans to get more young people into business.

 

We look forward to you joining us for this dinner, attend by our Forum Chairman Tom Maxfield and many of his fellow Board Members, as we launch our autumn programme.  It’s also a great opportunity to catch up with both new and existing business friends.

 

Richard graduated from the University of York with a degree in Economics in 1986. Following graduation he took a marketing position with Proctor and Gamble and then went on to become a brand manager. After two years he left to become a management consultant with Deloitte, before setting up his own management consultancy with a colleague from Deloitte. It was when he saw how difficult it was to get a reliable plumber in an emergency that he formulated his business model; an insurance product which would ensure a fast and efficient plumbing emergency service to customers via affinity partners.

 

After several let-downs, Richard managed to sell the idea to South Staffordshire Water, who gave him £100,000 for 52% of the company – Homeserve was born.

 

Within two years, Homeserve was turning profits and Richard successfully marketed the idea to other water companies, giving him total UK coverage.  Homeserve now covers electrical wiring, pest control, home decorating, central heating boilers and glazing.

 

HomeServe was listed on the London Stock Exchange in 2004. Based in Walsall, the company has a market capitalisation of more than £1 billion and has sold over £10 million policies. Last year’s turnover was £517 million, with pre-tax profits of £96 million. HomeServe has operations in the US, France and Spain and has recently launched in Belgium, with plans to expand further internationally.  HomeServe employs around 5,500 people.

 

In 2008 Richard won Ernst & Young’s coveted UK Entrepreneur of the Year award and went on to compete against winners from 40 other countries for the Ernst & Young World Entrepreneur of the Year awards in Monte Carlo in May 2009.

 

Born in Gateshead and after an education at Heathfield Senior High School, Michael joined the family firm of insurance brokers. Throughout his later teenage years and twenties Michael became involved in politics in the North East, motivated by a passion for educational and economic advancement in the region. He first stood for Parliament in Tyne Bridge aged 25 in 1987. He then went on to contest the Langbaurgh by-election in 1991 before being elected for the same seat in 1992. Michael has since served in various ministerial roles in Government, including a senior Government Whip, Her Majesty’s Paymaster General based in the Cabinet Office and as Sponsor Minister for Tyne and Wear.

 

After leaving Parliament in 1997 Michael studied at Oxford University and obtained an MBA in 1998. He went on serve as Director of Research for Oxford Analytica – a network of senior academics with ties to Oxford University who provide assessments of global political, economic and regulatory trends for clients in the public and private sectors.

An experienced strategic advisor and problem solver, Michael has over twenty years of senior board level experience with several companies in the UK and in the US and is a respected management consultant.

 

Michael formed Walton Bates Associates, based in Durham in 2006, as a vehicle through which to deliver a broad range of management consultancy and advisory engagements. Their founding objective was to work with clients to deliver improved financial performance through efficient and effective governance.

 

Awarded a life peerage of the United Kingdom in 2008, with an established record of public and political service, Michael continues to work hard with William Hague MP to re-establish the Conservative Party in the North of England and prior to the election served as Deputy Chairman of the Conservative Party and Shadow Minister for the Cabinet Office and Children, Schools and Families.

 

This dinner is charged at £95 + VAT for members and members' guests. Please reserve your place by calling 0870 850 2233 or emailing us at info@entrepreneursforum.net. The dinner will commence at 7.30pm with a drinks reception for 7.00pm.  Registration will open from 6.45 pm.

Please note that cancellations received within 48 hours of the event will be charged in full.