Duncan Bannatyne

Duncan Bannatyne OBE is a figurehead of British entrepreneurship whose journey from modest beginnings in Glasgow to the helm of a vast business empire serves as a powerful testament to persistence. Starting with a single ice cream van purchased for just £450, he systematically scaled his ventures into a diverse portfolio. His namesake organisation, The Bannatyne Group, now manages a prestigious range of hotels, health clubs, and bars, while expanding into significant residential property developments. Recognised globally as a formidable investor on the BBC programme Dragons’ Den, he has also shared his expertise on Mind Your Own Business, where he specialised in the strategic turnaround of struggling firms. Beyond his commercial success, he is a dedicated philanthropist, serving as an Honorary Fellow of the United Nations Children’s Fund and funding orphanages in Romania and Colombia through Scottish International Relief. His contributions to both industry and charity have been recognised with an OBE and an honorary Doctorate of Science from Glasgow Caledonian University. As the author of the influential book Anyone Can Do It, he provides audiences with a masterclass in resilient leadership and social responsibility. Organisations choose to book him for his ability to break down the complexities of corporate growth and his authentic perspective on building a sustainable legacy in the modern business world. On stage, Duncan Bannatyne is best known for talks on Business Turnaround and Esg & Social Responsibility. Audiences leave with a clear, practical view of the subject rather than a generic overview — every keynote is shaped around the brief and the room. Their work resonates with leaders across Business & Consulting, Charity & Non-Profit and Entrepreneurship, where the themes translate directly into team decisions, customer experience and growth strategy. Duncan Bannatyne is regularly booked for Business Speaker, adapting tone, length and format to suit the event — from a 20-minute opener to a full conference keynote with Q&A. Based in UK, Duncan Bannatyne travels internationally for engagements. To check availability or request a tailored brief for your event, send an enquiry and we'll come back with fees, dates and a short summary of how Duncan Bannatyne would approach your audience.