Live from the British Library’s Business & IP Centre: Inspiring Entrepreneurs: From Battlefield to Business

The British Library’s Business & IP Centre and NYPL’s Science, Industry and Business Library are partnering once again to present a live webcast of Inspiring Entrepreneurs: From Battlefield to Business

Are you about to leave the Armed Forces or have you already left? Why not think about starting up your own business!

Come and listen to four remarkable entrepreneurs who did just that. Find out what it takes to turn your skills into a business and learn about the wide range of initiatives that are available to support you.

Note that this event is a broadcast and not a live discussion.

Moderator, Matthew Rock
Matthew is founder and editor of Real Business magazine. He will be leading the discussion with our panel of highly successful entrepreneurs.

Keynote speaker, Claire Perry MP
Claire is an elected Member of Parliament for Devizes and was appointed as Parliamentary Private Secretary (PPS) to Philip Hammond, the Secretary of State for Defence. She has had a business career in the United States and Britain working for McKinsey and Company and Credit Suisse and she also started her own small company offering financial advice for women.

Panel

William Kendall, William served as an Army officer in The Royal Anglian Regiment. In 1990 he ran the embryonic New Covent Garden Soup Company which he led for 9 years before selling it to a public company. Subsequently, in 1997 he purchased Green & Black’s which he and his partners sold to Cadbury in 2005. Today he is Chairman of Nemadi Advisors which invests in early stage venture businesses mainly in the consumer goods and environmental sectors. He is also a campaigner for better and more locally produced food.

Sarah-Jane Hill, While Sarah-Jane’s husband was serving in Iraq for 6 months, she decided set up her jewellery company, Bish Bosh Becca. Sarah-Jane designs and makes all the jewellery herself and offers a bespoke service. She works with 92.5% sterling silver and fine silver 99.9% materials, which have been made by the Karen Hill Tribe Artisans of Northern Thailand.

Peter Fitchett, After leaving school, Peter temporarily worked at a pizza parlour before joining the British Army in 2000. He left the Army in 2003 and held a range of positions including sales manager, ground worker and manager of a gym. In 2009, following redundancy, Peter was keen to start up a business as a licensed waste carrier for both commercial and domestic waste called Absolute Rubbish and now has plans to franchise the business.

Ben Brabyn, Ben was Captain in Royal Marines for nearly five years. In 2001 he founded Bmycharity an online fundraising service which over 60,000 fundraisers and 800,000 donors have used to deliver over £31 million to UK charities which he sold in 2010. Recently, he has co-founded This Tribe a specialist in high quality clothing and equipment for the military, police, security industry and outdoor enthusiasts.