Richard is the founder of HomeServe, a global home improvement and repairs company that achieved FTSE 100 status before being sold to Brookfield Asset Management for £4.1 billion. A true entrepreneur, Richard’s energy for business and creating opportunity is limitless. Born in Huddersfield and raised in Northumberland, Richard studied economics at York University before starting his career at Procter & Gamble and Deloitte. His entrepreneurial journey began early, launching several ventures before co-founding HomeServe in 1993. Under his leadership, it grew into an international business operating in 10 countries with over 10,000 employees. Richard is passionate about helping other entrepreneurs achieve more than they ever thought possible, and it is this passion that fuels his mission to help mid-size companies go from mid-size to big-size. He believes that by doubling the number of large companies in the UK we can unlock jobs, opportunity, growth and prosperity. In 2015, he founded Growth Partner to invest in and support high-growth consumer brands to scale their businesses and in 2023 he acquired Business Leader. With Business Leader’s peer-to-peer community of the UK’s top founders and CEOs, he is determined to help medium-sized businesses scale into market leaders and achieve more than they ever thought possible. As the Sunday Times Business columnist, week to week he continues to champion entrepreneurship and business growth. Richard is the author of How to Make Billion in 9 Steps , a framework to Inspire Business Breakthrough based on the key lessons he wishes he’d known when starting out. These steps help entrepreneurs avoid common pitfalls, make decisions with greater certainty, and scale their businesses faster.