Whether virtual or in-person, these business speakers bring firsthand experience from high-stakes, competitive environments and expertise in entrepreneurship, innovation, and strategic thinking. Known personalities from these shows can captivate audiences with stories of resilience, risk-taking, and success, inspiring attendees to think creatively and embrace challenges. Their presence boosts event appeal, draws in larger audiences, and enhances your brand’s credibility, making your event memorable and impactful for everyone involved.
At Great Business Speakers, we can help by connecting you with top entrepreneurs from The Apprentice and Dragon’s Den, speakers who specialise in inspiring business growth, innovation, and investment strategies. These speakers bring firsthand experience from the show and offer valuable insights into pitching, securing funding, and scaling a business. Whether through workshops, keynote talks, or tailored consulting, our speakers provide actionable advice and strategies that can empower your team, drive entrepreneurial success, and unlock new opportunities for growth and investment.
Discover our Apprentice and Dragon’s Den Speakers below, or contact the team at Great Business Speakers to enquire or book. +44 1753 439 289
Deborah Meaden is a businesswoman, entrepreneur, TV personality, writer, and inspirational business speaker. She is best known for appearing on BBC’s Dragons’ Den (2006-).
She champions ethical and fair practices in both her personal life and her business investments, believing that caring for the environment is crucial for our wellbeing.
She is a popular keynote speaker, offering talks on business, the environment, investing, selling and retail, and other financial matters.
Rob Law is an inventor, entrepreneur, writer, and founder of the Trunki suitcase.
Despite the suitcase being rejected on Dragons’ Dens, he went on to sell over 5 million, before leaving the business in 2023.
He is also the co-founder of science-based sleep company Zeepy, and data-lead business Aphelion Agency, who help brands reach their full potential on Amazon.
In 2020, he published 65 Roses and A Trunki: Defying the Odds in Life and Business, where he tells his story of a life-long battle with Cystic Fibrosis, losing his sister to the same illness, and defying the limits put on him at birth to build a globally successful brand.
In 2011, he was awarded an MBE from the late Queen for services to business, an Honorary DEng from Bath University in 2015, and an Honorary Degree of Doctor of Business Administration from UWE in 2018.
Now an inspirational keynote speaker, Rob often talks about innovation, leadership, and resilience in a personal and professional capacity.
Marnie Swindells is a boxer, entrepreneur, and winner of the BBC reality show The Apprentice (2023).
Since winning, she has undergone a life-changing year after becoming business partners with Lord Alan Sugar and is the proud owner of The Bronx Boxing Gym. She has appeared on various media channels, and in advertisement campaigns for brands such as Colgate and and Sports Direct.
Now an inspiration to novices and professionals alike, Marnie is a popular keynote speaker on the topics of entrepreneurialism, female business leaders, sport, power, resilience, and how sport – boxing specifically – can bring you so much more than ‘just’ fitness; it can give you a place to belong.
Sian Gabbidon is a renowned British businesswoman, motivational speaker, business consultant, and the first black female winner of BBC’s The Apprentice, following her series 14 success.
She started her business, Sian Marie, from her bedroom and built it into a global brand with seven-figure retail partnerships, demonstrating her ability to turn a vision into a thriving business. She also co-founded Twenty Twenty Digital, one of the UK’s fastest growing e-commerce agencies.
She now shares her story as an in-demand speaker and presenter on all aspects of business stat-ups to a wide range of audiences. Sian is passionate about empowering entrepreneurs and small business owners, sharing her journey and expertise to help others achieve their business goals.
Sam Saadet was a candidate on The Apprentice 2024 and is the founder of The Mummy Movement, an online pre-and post-pregnancy fitness programme.
Her her knack for business earned her the playful moniker “Del Boy” among friends – a play on her ability to sell, her eye for a bargain and her Essex charm.
With a successful career in recruitment, Sam Saadet’s life took an extraordinary turn with the arrival of her twin daughters. Sam discovered a newfound passion for fitness during her pregnancy – a commitment to nurturing herself in preparation for the joys and challenges ahead.
It wasn’t just about physical health for Sam; fitness became her sanctuary, a lifeline for navigating the turbulent journey of postpartum life. Recognising the profound impact of exercise on mental well-being, Sam embarked on a mission to share her journey and expertise with fellow mothers.
Reece Donnelly is a Scottish Actor, Entrepreneur, and Business owner.
In 2017, Reece founded the highly successful Theatre School of Scotland, and the Theatre College of Scotland not long after. In doing so, he became the youngest college owner in the UK, at the time. Students of his college have gone on to land roles at Disney, Netflix, and the BBC.
A familiar face to some, Reece appeared on the 2023 series of The Apprentice, becoming the first Scottish candidate in over a decade.
In 2018, he made The Sunday Mail’s Young Scot Awards final.
Rachel Watkyn is an award-winning entrepreneur, businesswoman, keynote speaker, and sustainability advocate.
She started Tiny Box Company from a bedroom in her parent’s home, and went on to receive investment on Dragons’ Den. She is the winner of the 2010 National Small Business Recycler of the Year, the 2020 NatWest Entrepreneur of the Year Award, the 2020 Rural Business Award, and the 2021 Entrepreneurial Business of the Year Award.
Now a popular keynote speaker, Rachel’s mission is to encourage female entrepreneurs to follow their passions and fulfil their dreams.
“I want to spread the word that if a black Brixtonian Rastafarian can make it with just a sauce, then you can make it too.”
The incredible rise of musician Levi Roots to Business legend is one of the most heard-warming success stories of the country. He made the big time by producing his Reggae Reggae Sauce, a delightful mix of barbecue and jerk sauce that won an exclusive contract in 2007 with Sainsburys, becoming their fastest ever selling product.
Prior to his business success, he had been making the sauce from his home kitchen with the help of his seven adult children, selling it at various small London outlets. His secret recipe was inspired by his grandmother, Miriam Small, who taught him to cook from the age of nine in Jamaica. He had the recipe in his head for years but didn’t start producing it until 1991 at the Notting Hill Carnival – where his ‘Rastaurant’ was a popular feature for over two decades.
As a keynote and after-dinner speaker, Levi infuses his performance with anecdotes, insights into entrepreneurship and inspiring the next generation of business leaders.
Best known for his stint on Dragons’ Den (2007-12), James Caan CBE is a successful entrepreneur, investor, philanthropist, and author.
He is the founder of headhunting company Alexander Mann, management advisory company Hamilton Bradshaw, and investment company Recruitment Entrepreneur. In 2009, James worked with the UK Government to create the iAwards to support innovation in the UK. Three years later, he was appointed the Chairman of the UK Government start-up loans scheme.
James now utilises his years of experience by being an in-demand keynote speaker, event host, and conference panellist. He has worked for companies including Google and Samsung, and appeared at events such as The Business Show, and the MADE Festival. A veteran of entrepreneurship, James inspires his audiences with anecdotes and motivational tips.
James was appointed a CBE in 2015 for his services to entrepreneurship and charity.
Holly Tucker MBE is a vibrant and empowering entrepreneur, best known as the co‑founder and Executive Chairman of notonthehighstreet.com, the UK’s leading online marketplace for small, creative businesses.
In 2015 she launched Holly & Co, Holly & Co is a curated online marketplace and platform dedicated to supporting and celebrating small, independent businesses, particularly those founded by women. Over 95% of the businesses featured on the platform are female-founded, highlighting their work and creativity. It also provides advice and inspiration for small business owners.
As the founder of Holly & Co and ‘Not On The High Street’, she has become a leading figure in the world of creative entrepreneurial start-ups.
Holly also serves as the UK Ambassador to Creative Small Businesses, where she passionately advocates for the incredible talent of small business owners worldwide.
With 20 years’ experience, and as the only woman ever to have built two marketplaces to support small businesses, Holly is on a mission to use business to change the world. It is her passion to inspire and empower women, and to show that anyone can build a business doing what they love.
Harpreet Kaur is a British businesswoman and media figure who rose to national recognition as the winner of Series 16 of BBC’s The Apprentice in 2022. She is the founder of the dessert company Oh So Yum! and has since become a well-known voice in the entrepreneurial and business world, regularly appearing as a keynote speaker.
Following her victory on The Apprentice, Harpreet secured a £250,000 investment from Lord Sugar, partnering with him to accelerate the growth of her brand. Remarkably, within just a year, she had successfully regained full ownership of her business.
She is a sought-after speaker, sharing insights on entrepreneurship, female leadership, resilience, media, and navigating the food industry. Her engaging style and honest storytelling have resonated with audiences across the UK and beyond.
She has partnered with an impressive roster of international companies, including Adobe, American Express, BBC Earth, Dell, Fiverr, Indeed, Mercedes-Benz, Sage, Samsung, Tide Banking, and Xero, bringing her expertise and entrepreneurial experience to a wide range of campaigns and events.
Chanelle Lady McCoy is one of Ireland’s most successful businesswomen, winning the All-Ireland Business Champion Award and recently ranked no 23 in the ‘50 incredible people shaping modern Ireland.
Having previously been a co-founder of Ireland’s largest indigenous pharmaceutical company and more recently Chanelle McCoy Health, a research and development-led pharmaceutical company, Chanelle is a very motivating speaker on business and leadership.
Chanelle was previously one of the dragons on Ireland’s Dragons’ Den where she enjoyed sharing her experience of growing successful businesses and supporting entrepreneurs on their journey to business growth. She is also a huge supporter of women in business and mentoring young entrepreneurs.
Bianca Miller-Cole is an award-winning Entrepreneur and personal brand expert; having founded the ‘go-to’ business for harnessing workforce potential.
The business has an impressive list of clients including HSBC, Accenture, AMEX, CMS LLP, PWC, Barclays, EY, Google, LSE, UAL, BT, KPMG to name a few. Bianca was honoured as a ‘Forbes 30 under 30’ for her commitment to e-commerce and retail via her diverse hosiery brand, which she pitched in the final of The Apprentice in 2014.
Bianca Miller-Cole ’s business influence also resulted in her being awarded a Top 10 ‘Power Profile Leader’ via LinkedIn out of 20 million members, alongside Richard Branson. She appears in the Top 50 Future Leaders lists for the Financial Times HERoes (women only) and EMpower (ethnic minority) lists for her success in business. She is the co-author of the bestselling book Self Made: The Definitive Guide to Business Startup Success and uses her spare time to mentor a growing community of budding entrepreneurs.
Duncan Bannatyne OBE is a highly respected entrepreneur known for his no-nonsense business style, inspirational story, and role as a former “Dragon” on BBC’s Dragons’ Den.
With a dynamic career spanning health clubs, hotels, spas, and media, he brings unmatched insight into business growth, resilience, and innovation. As a speaker, Duncan captivates audiences with his authenticity, humour, and real-world wisdom.
Duncan’s career path was not traditional, but his success speaks for itself – he is in the top 16 Glasgow Rich List. He has a net worth of approximately £500 million, despite leaving school with no qualifications and spending time doing several manual, low-paid jobs.
In 2004, Duncan received an OBE for his charity work. He is a keen anti-smoking campaigner and an active advocate for several charities, including Comic Relief, Scottish International Relief, and UNICEF.
Adam Corbally is a motivational speaker, entrepreneur and former candidate on The Apprentice.
Despite not winning the competition, Adam Corbally left a lasting impression on viewers with his infectious energy and positive attitude. Following his stint on the show, he embarked on a successful career as a motivational speaker and business consultant.
Speaking to audiences, Adam shares his personal story and journey, from leaving school and home at only 16 years old with little hope and then turning his life around, returning to education and becoming a financial success, achieving happiness and fulfilment in his life.
His message is about how to be resilient, raise aspirations, cope with change and achieve goals. Adam’s speaking style is dynamic and authentic, as he shares practical advice and inspirational stories from his own journey as an entrepreneur.
