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Farleigh, Varley, and The Stig join conference line up

A former star of Dragons’ Den and one of the country’s leading banking bosses will be in the North East next week for a high-profile conference.

The Entrepreneurs’ Forum is gearing up to host its sixth annual conference, with the aim of injecting fresh inspiration into the region, despite the gloomy economic climate.

Inspired6 takes place on Thursday 21 May at the Hilton Hotel in Gateshead.

Former Dragons’ Den star Richard Farleigh will tell delegates of his rise from a childhood spent in poverty in his native Australia. Despite his poor start in life, he excelled at maths and chess, winning a scholarship to read economics at the University of New South Wales and going on to become a trader at the Bankers’ Trust Australia in Sydney, where he spent a decade.

Today, he operates as a full-time business angel and has possibly invested in more new UK companies than any other entrepreneur.

Barclays Bank CEO John Varley will also be appearing over a video linkup.

Mr Varley will be quizzed before the event and his perspective on the current economic climate will be relayed to delegates via big screen at the conference.

Perry McCarthy, who was the original cult hero ‘The Stig’ on the BBC’s Top Gear, will entertain diners with his tales of life in the fast lane, including stories about the likes of Michael Schumacher, Lewis Hamilton, Nigel Mansell and Jeremy Clarkson.

Forum Chief Executive Carole Beverley said: “We are thrilled to have added yet more speakers for what is shaping up to be an unmissable day. I’m sure that their experience, expertise and knowledge will be a source of true inspiration for delegates.”

The conference runs from 10am to 5.30pm and dinner from 7pm to 10.30pm. To book a place, or for further information, contact the Forum on 0870 850 2233 or email info@entrepreneursforum.net.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Ruth Mitchell .