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London Entrepreneur of the Year (1999), Simon Woodroffe OBE is the founder and creative driving force behind YO! The brand includes YO! Sushi, the chain of internationally famous conveyor belt sushi bars and YOTEL, the world’s most radical hotel: luxury in just 10sq metres. In June 1999 Simon was named the Emerging Entrepreneur of the Year in recognition of his success. Simon is a charismatic and engaging speaker with a very personal story on how he has built up YO! and the future for businesses in the next century.
Simon Woodroffe has an energising presence. He is an outstanding motivational speaker and is warmly received wherever he speaks. On certain engagements he can be accompanied by the YO! roadshow which brings the delights of sushi to conferences and seminars. And occasionally, he can even be persuaded to sing!
After leaving school at sixteen, Simon Woodroffe spent almost thirty years in the entertainment business. Through the 1970s and 1980s his production companies, based in London and Los Angeles, designed rock 'n' roll stages for artistes like Rod Stewart, The Moody Blues and Stevie Wonder, and events like Live Aid.
A natural progression led Woodroffe into television at the start of the 1990s. He spearheaded the development of television deals to show huge international rock concerts worldwide, organising the financing and distribution of the Nelson Mandela concerts, shows for Amnesty International and the Prince's Trust concerts. His television production deals included Japan's number one pop show, Hit Studio International.
Simon believes that a divorce at the beginning of the 90s opened his eyes to the character defects that had held him back. This allowed him to develop personally and to lead a team using many of the tools he learnt in that development.
YO! Sushi was born out of Woodroffe's feel for entertainment. YO! is developing as a lifestyle brand and has grown naturally out of the initial restaurant concept. Simon's focus is now on the international market and there are various developments taking place to promote the YO! brand across Europe and into the United States. YO! intends to be a brand in multiple market sectors delivering luxurious concepts at accessible prices.
Simon was an original “Dragon” on the BBC 2 produced worldwide hit programme Dragons’ Den as one of the formidable panelists, who make and break the dreams of would-be entrepreneurs as they
pitch their business ideas for financing. Simon shared the panel with Doug Richard, Duncan Bannatyne and Rachel Elnaugh. Simon has also featured on Discovery TV’s VIP Weekends with Ian Wright, ITV’s Homes & Property, ITV’s The Millionaire’s Club and Through the Keyhole with David Frost.
As a result of being asked to share the story of his entrepreneurial success, Woodroffe has developed a strong reputation on the UK and international public speaking circuit. Simon speaks openly avoiding business cliché and audiences find his story extremely inspiring and a catalyst for their own endeavours, be they in a large corporate setting or working at a start-up level.
Simon won a 1999 Entrepreneur of the Year Award (Ernst & Young) and is a part of the CBI / BCC Ambassador of Entrepreneurism campaign. He was a finalist in the Real Business Awards Entrepreneur of the Year 1999. For YO! Sushi he has received awards from Design Week (Best Restaurant) Marketing Week 1998 - Design Effectiveness Awards 1998 and Best Web Site for Hospitality Solutions 1999. For his services to the hospitality industry, he was an awarded an OBE in the Queen’s Birthday Honours 2006.
The YO! story continues to develop and Simon works with others to develop new YO! Brands.
Unconventional innovation in each YO! retail concept will deliver customers that “zizzz” factor traditionally found in showbiz. YOTEL, the world’s most radical hotel with rooms of just 10sq metres and space travel inspired interiors opened to the world at London Gatwick Airport in Jul 2007 and was the first hotel in the world to be actually inside an airport terminal. London Heathrow opened in Winter that year and the first international YOTEL, Amstedram Schipol Airport opened 30 September 2008. The public love YOTEL and press has been fantastic: “It's definitely a hip new way to kip” (London’s Sunday Times)
Simon is developing more new YO! Brands including YO! Zone: part spa, part café, part bar and part nightclub; and YO! Home: which will provide a futuristic take on the traditional home. Simon has also created the YO! Foundation to support various charitable causes that are important to him
Simon Woodroffe Speaker Showreel - Click play to watch a short sample video clip of Simon Woodroffe. For more information on Simon Woodroffe please contact one of the Speakers Corner booking agents on +44 (0) 208 365 3200 or email info@speakerscorner.co.uk
Outside of appearing and speaking at live corporate and private events Simon Woodroffe has a number of retail products available that can be purchased through Speakers Corner. For upcoming new book and product launches related to Simon Woodroffe then please contact one of the Speakers Corner booking agents on +44 (0) 208 365 3200 or email info@speakerscorner.co.uk



A selection of relevant news related to Simon Woodroffe and Business stories. For more information on Simon Woodroffe or details as to how to book Simon Woodroffe for your corporate event, then please contact one of the Speakers Corner booking agents on +44 (0) 20 8365 3200 or email info@speakerscorner.co.uk
Simon Woodroffe has spoken and appeared at a number of recent corporate events. Please find some client speaker testimonials and reviews for Simon Woodroffe for a number of these events and conferences. If you would like some additional information as to how to book Simon Woodroffe for your corporate event, then please contact one of the Speakers Corner booking agents on +44 (0) 208 365 3200 or email info@speakerscorner.co.uk
"If I said that your appearance and presentation went down well, I reckon that would be a tragic understatement; rather we all thought that you really were magnificent! "
"The feedback from the delegates has been phenomenal and you are officially down on their score-card as the best ever."
"You were a vital part of our event, and the breadth, depth and richness of your presentation was genuinely appreciated."
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