Jim Cregan

Jim Cregan is an entrepreneur and founder who built Jimmy's Iced Coffee from a kitchen-table idea into a £17 million business acquired by Britvic in 2022. After co-founding the brand in 2010 with his sister Suzie, he grew it to over 10,000 stockists nationwide through relentless determination, smart differentiation, and hands-on grit, earning recognition as one of the UK's standout entrepreneurial success stories. Having spoken over 250 times to organisations including Apple, Microsoft, and Diageo, Jim equips audiences with jargon-free, practical insights on resilience, motivation, and common-sense strategy, leaving teams and aspiring entrepreneurs energised with actionable lessons they can apply immediately to their own ventures and challenges.

After years of unfulfilling work as a labourer and festival organiser, Jim Cregan took a trip to Australia in 2008 that would change the course of his career. Obsessed with the iced coffee culture he discovered there, he returned to Dorset determined to build something meaningful. In 2010, he co-founded Jimmy's Iced Coffee with his sister Suzie, armed with little more than conviction, common sense, and a willingness to do whatever it took. What followed was a masterclass in entrepreneurial grit: hand-labelling 3,000 cartons in a walk-in fridge over 25 hours because printed packaging was too expensive, personally distributing hundreds of samples to gather feedback, and driving from Dorset to London to pitch stockists, maintaining that relentless pace as the business grew.

Jim's conviction that differentiation must be a continuous project helped Jimmy's stand out in a crowded market, packaged smartly and positioned in premium outlets just as the UK iced coffee sector began to boom. By the time he sold the business to Britvic in 2022, annual sales had reached £17 million, with a Jimmy's carton selling every two and a half seconds across more than 10,000 outlets nationwide. His journey has earned him recognition as one of the UK's entrepreneurial success stories, and he has shared his insights over 250 times with audiences at organisations including The Guardian, Apple, Diageo, Microsoft, and Arts University Bournemouth, as well as schools, colleges, and festivals. His lived experience of building from nothing offers audiences a rare window into the unglamorous reality of entrepreneurship, grounded in practical thinking rather than theory.

Jim's approach to speaking mirrors the philosophy that built his business: jargon-free, real, and refreshingly humorous. He takes audiences through the importance of staying motivated through the hard yards, why common sense often beats overcomplicated strategy, and how to maintain conviction when the path forward is unclear. His presentations offer practical takeaways on differentiation, resilience, and the mindset required to turn an idea into a thriving venture. Whether addressing corporate teams, aspiring entrepreneurs, or students, Jim delivers tangible lessons grounded in lived experience, leaving audiences energised and equipped with actionable insights they can apply immediately to their own challenges and ambitions. His warmth, authenticity, and willingness to share both successes and setbacks make him a speaker who connects deeply, inspiring lasting impact long after the event concludes.