Eclectic line-up for festival of entrepreneurs

MADE: The Entrepreneur Festival 2014 is being held next month and features an eclectic mix of business success stories.

Levi Roots, the musician and food entrepreneur who famously won investment on Dragons Den for his Reggae Reggae Sauce products, will speak at the MADE for Success Conference, being held at Sheffield City Hall on September 24 and 25.

More than 3,000 delegates are expected at the festival. Also lined up to speak is Michelle Mone, the Scottish model turned lingerie entrepreneur who launched and owns the successful Ultimo bra range. She received an OBE in 2010.

She will be joined at the event by Jamal Edwards, whose youth broadcasting channel SB.TV has grown into a global brand with more than 150 million YouTube views, documenting a new breed of video stars. From a teenager on a council estate in west London, he is now a self-made multi millionaire, and counts Richard Branson as one of his friends.

Doug Richard, a software businessman and former Dragon on the Dragons Den programme, who is founder of SchoolForStartups, which teaches entrepreneurs across the world, is also a guest speaker.

Other speakers include Shaa Wasmund, best-selling business author, entrepreneur and founder of the Smarta social enterprise company, which offers business support, and Rekha Mehr, founder of London baker Pistachio Rose, and now Start up Entrepreneur in Residence for the Department of Business, Innovation and Skills.

Wayne Hemmingway, the fashion designer and co-founder of the Red or Dead brand, will also speak, and there will be a presentation by Paul McKenna, the hypnotist and author of self help books who will share practical success strategies.

Mark Easton, the BBC’s home editor, will chair a panel of business leaders and entrepreneurs to discuss ‘What makes a great entrepreneur and how do we make more of them?’

All the speakers will give guidance on building a brand, managing growth and leadership management.

Brendan Moffett, director of Marketing Sheffield, said: “MADE is the UK’s biggest and best celebration of entrepreneurship and this line up of top speakers will make it a valuable, must-attend event for new businesses.

“We hope to attract more than 3,000 entrepreneurs, business owners and managers to Sheffield for a host of engaging conference sessions, events and exhibitions, providing the best advice, knowledge and support to accelerate business growth.”

He added: “Since it was established in 2010, MADE has become a major event for entrepreneurs, attracting leaders from business, government and the media.

“It puts a real focus on educating young entrepreneurs and we’re working with local schools, Sheffield College, Sheffield Hallam University and the University of Sheffield to attract high numbers of young people.”

As well as the MADE for Success conference, the wider festival includes specialist fringe events during the week of September 22 to 26, including an exhibition and gala dinner.

The week-long series of events is being organised by business services provider BE Group, under licence from Sheffield City Council.

Key partners at the event include law firm Irwin Mitchell, Sheffield Hallam University, the University of Sheffield and Sheffield College.