Speaker...

 "Craig is not your usual speaker.  His approach is unorthodox, from the big pictoral images he uses to the way he connects powerfully to his audience.    Craig has a way of finding just the right level at which to communicate his message.   And the message itself is challenging, uncompromising - but at the same time humourous and inspirational.    He lifts any event and I would recommend him to anyone.  Worth every penny"  Simon Thorrington,  Director, Charity Bank

"Craig speaks with integrity, honesty and passion offering pearls of wisdom from his wealth of experience in social entrepreneurship.  One can't help but get excited about the possibilities for social change and renewed with vigure when he speaks from the heart.  If only you could get him on prescription"!
Craig DP speaking at a HSSE Surgery to equip and inspire emerging social entrepreneurs Summer 2010. Conroy Williams, Hampshire SSE Programme Manager

 "Craig has been a very popular choice of speaker at two recent events for CAB Chief Executives. On both occasions Craig delivered well prepared, stimulating and thought provoking sessions about how the third sector can meet the challenges of the current and future environment. I would certainly recommend him as an excellent speaker and look forward to inviting him back to a future event."  Caroline Barrett:  Citizens Advice

"Craig has a natural way of communicating with people and instantly builds a relationship with his audience.   Craig’s presentation was inspiring and motivating giving us an invaluable lesson in how to find paths through any obstacles that are placed in the way of positive change and to help us construct stable foundations.   His experience and expertise shine through along with his honest, humorous and down to earth approach in demonstrating to social entrepreneurs and those working in the third sector how they can realistically and successfully achieve their goals".   Ros Peckham, Open Chord

“Craig is a first-class speaker.   Inspiring, engaging and authentic, he opens the eyes of people in private business to the emerging world of social enterprise.  He asks the hard questions – without alienating his audience.   And people leave the room with a new perspective – and feeling inspired” Mike Southon: Financial Times columnist and best-selling business author

 

"Craig has been a very popular choice of speaker at two recent events for CAB Chief Executives. On both occasions Craig delivered well-prepared, stimulating and thought-provoking sessions about how the third sector can meet the challenges of the current and future environment. I would certainly recommend him as an excellent speaker and look forward to inviting him back to a future event."  Caroline Barrett: Citizens Advice“

 

"Craig recently spoke to a group of social entrepreneurs who are part of Anglia Ruskin's SEED (Social Enterprise Executive Development) programme.  The whole group was buzzing after Craig's session - hearing someone who has been on their journey speak so frankly and entertainingly on the subject of growth was just what they needed.  The ability to tell a story, but more importantly to reflect and to share the lessons learned, is what sets Craig apart from many other social enterprise speakers.  I highly recommend bringing Craig in for that crucial voice of experience, whether as a one-to-one mentor or as a speaker for seminars and other events”. Andrew Brady: Head of Third Sector Futures, Anglia Ruskin University

 

“As  a speaker he is an entertaining and passionate advocate of the need for private sector organisations to pay closer attention to the social side of their business.  Craig brings a unique perspective to the corporate environment having successfully built one of the most innovative third sector organisations in the UK.  Craig has the ability to translate the many ways in which social enterprises succeed, where the private sector often struggles to achieve similar goals.  ” Colin Tyler: Partner at OC&C Strategy Consultants

 

“Craig’s enthusiasm and engaging style invigorates his audience and in particular encourages younger people to get involved.  I have known Craig for a number of years now, and he does what he says he will do.  He challenges, he pushes the boundaries in a considered and sympathetic way, so much so that only afterwards people will realise quite how far they have come". John Willis: CEO of Varrier Jones Foundation

 

"I found Craig's approach refreshing and enlightening.  An entertaining but poignant presentation delivered with confidence and aplomb.  Highly recommended".  Alison Agius: Executive Director, Catalyst Stockton

 

"Craig gave an added dimension and flavour to our social value conference in June, he was inspiring to the audience and brought to life a number of his 'stories' that had powerful messages behind them.  I would recommend Craig to others who are looking for someone to speak who will make a difference". Julie Cheetham, Project Director Social Value, NHS North West

 

"Craig is an inspirational public speaker.  You know he is sincere because he has lived the dream of a social entrepreneur. The strongest message he gave was that we can all achieve more in our lives if we are prepared to throw aside caution and believe in ourselves". 

Francis Le Gresley, Jersey Citizens Advice Bureau

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mentor and Coach…..

“Craig is an excellent mentor with a unique perspective and exceptional experience in the third sector, particularly around social enterprise. Craig’s reflective style, insights and advice have proved invaluable over the years especially when I moved from my previous CEO post to my new one. Absolutely first class!”    Matt Stephenson-Dodd: CEO of Street League

 

“Craig is one of the most inspiring, talented and kind people I know.  I’d recommend him in an instant.”  Peter Holbrook: CEO of  UK Social Enterprise Coalition:

 

"Craig is the perfect Social Enterprise mentor - open, approachable, perceptive, motivational.  He provides excellent leadership skills coaching across the blended business & social nature of the sector."   Phil Conway: Founding CEO, Cool to Care

 

“I've known Craig for the best part of ten years. He's one of those rare and brilliant people who always leave you feeling more confident, more clear minded and more energised. If you can't afford to hire him at the very least buy him lunch”.  Nick Wilkie: CEO of London Youth

 

"Coffee not the couch.  Conversation not cross-examination.  Interested, imaginative and in-touch with reality.  Time with Craig is reflection, reset and recharge all in one."  Richard Catherall: Chief Executive’s Department, Suffolk County Council

 

“Craig is a rare find for any social entrepreneur: Firstly, he`s done it, so that’s helpful! Secondly: he is motivated for the right reasons, so you can trust him, which accelerates the learning process. Thirdly, he understands that telling an entrepreneur what to do is not ideal, so adopts a listening / coaching style which will help you unblock issues. Finally, Craig is serious, committed and respected, and has networks to match, these should prove invaluable to people who work with him”. Alistair Wilson: CEO of School for Social Entrepreneurs

 

“Working with Craig has been very productive.   His ability to listen to the complexities of our challenge then feedback with insightful analysis has opened doors to networks and funding that were closed to us before his intervention. When you talk to Craig he really listens.  Even better he reflects on this then gives insightful analysis.  He’s unlocked doors and opportunities both in our minds and balance sheet”. Jim Overbury: CEO of Housing Action

 

"Craig is a great coach.  He creates a safe space and is an amazing listener so I soon found I was exploring all sorts of areas which turned out to have been blocking me from making progress. He uses coaching skills so he's not giving advice, but at the same time you trust him because you know he's actually done it himself. He has created a fabulous social enterprise, I would highly recommend him"   Elspeth Chasser: Management Consultant

 

 

Strategy Partner….

“Craig is one of the most consistently insightful and courageously honest observers of the social sector. He is on the leading edge of change and growth in our field. As the Michelin Guides say, “worth a journey”.   Cliff Prior:  CEO of Unltd:   

 

"Craig is a fearless thinker with a track record in challenging and rethinking current service models to get better value for both customers and commissioners" Nigel Howlett: CEO of Cambridge House Society

"A class act; A strategic thinker but with a grounding in delivery and what it takes to produce results" Stephen Bubb: CEO of ACEVO

 

"Craig has grown one of the leading enterprises in the not for profit sector through applying the wisdom and experience of supporters and advisers to his own knowledge, intellect and common sense. Craig has a reasoned approach to risk and an inquisitiveness that leads to innovation and organisational evolution." David Gold: MD of Prospect-us

 

“Craig brings a unique combination of front-line experience and skills to any conversation with social investors or entrepreneurs. Having started Speaking Up from scratch, he also led its growth to £10mn turnover through organic and inorganic means over __ years.  Craig’s strong leadership and communication skills, along with his skillful management of support from several different venture philanthropy funders were critical to this achievement.  He understands both the opportunities for and constraints on growth for 3rd sector organisations, as well as the expectations of social investors.  All this positions him to provide insightful and actionable advice to both investees and investors”. Denise Holle: Programme Manager of CAN’s Breakthrough Programme

 

“I’ve known Craig for a number of years. He is completely authentic: he speaks his mind; challenges conventional thinking; is values led; and generally ‘knows his onions’ in terms of scaling up businesses. Someone to be trusted.” Ian Joseph: Russam GMS – former third sector CEO

 

“Craig is just so knowledgeable about the sector and reflective to boot – whatever problem you describe he can pick out the important bits immediately, grasping the subtleties of specific settings and picking up on what you don’t say as much as what you do.  Best of all he has ideas (plural!) about what to do to move things forward.  Courageous and principled – that’s a pretty awesome combination.  Craig challenges traditional notions of charity with his business brain, whilst bringing a principled heart to entrepreneurship.  He’s full of ideas, but has a track record of delivery – I’m always left with a fresh view of the world after talking with him.” Rob Fountain: Business Development Manager, Shared Care Network

 

“Craig has a wealth of experience in third sector provision and organisational development; his creative and strategic vision benefits both third sector and public sector organisations in moving forward successfully and effectively”.     Rob Harris: CEO of Advocacy Experience

 

“Speaking as someone who is a Social Enterprise Ambassador and a former NHS Commissioner - if anyone out there is looking for someone to do a piece of work with them on connecting and embedding social enterprise into the current health and social care agenda - then look no further than Craig he knows his stuff, is a pleasure to work with and will do you a great job!” Martin Kinsella: CEO of P3 social business

 

“Craig is a highly effective strategist with a wealth of hands-on experience. The practical guidance he offers to other managers is all the more useful because it comes from a position of insight and empathy”. Daniel Currie:  former CEO of St Giles Trust

 

“Craig's real talent is in blending the skills of a social entrepreneur with those of a CEO.  It's not easy being both - but he's shown that it can be done.  This experience of the hard graft and inspired action that's required to deliver lasting social change is can be of real value to anyone looking at how to create change through business”.   Rob Greenland: CEO of Social Business Consulting

 

Social Entrepreneur……

“Craig is a dynamic and inspirational social enterprise leader. I am really impressed with what he has achieved at Speaking-Up and he has wealth of experience to share with others in his new role".  Jonathan Bland: CEO of Social Enterprise International

 

"Craig understands investors. He has been invested in and now helps investors identify high potential ventures. He helped us to prepare how we presented our case for investment from a major venture philanthropy organisation - and he could help you too" Shaun Doran: CEO of FRC Group

 

"Craig is a strong CEO with clear and focused strategic ambition. The success to date of the social enterprise he founded combined with his personal drive and enthusiasm was pivotal in Breakthrough’s decision to support Speaking Up’s growth ambitions. The Permira team was impressed early on by his ability to create a sound investment thesis and his unflinching determination to deliver on it.”     Paul Armstrong:  private equity firm Permira

 

“Craig combined passion with increasing professionalism and strategic insight to build Speaking Up to its recent merger with Advocacy Partners. I wish him well in his new business working with social entrepreneurs”.  John Kingston: CEO of Venturesome

 

“Craig is a highly innovative and successful social entrepreneur. We at Impetus know this as we backed him in 2004 to scale up his organisation-he delivered impressive results both for Speaking Up's users and for the organisation itself. More recently Craig has joined the Impetus Board of Trustees . His first-hand knowledge of working with a venture philanthropy organisation like Impetus has given Craig a unique insight into the needs of both social entrepreneurs and social investors alike.” Nat Sloane: Founder of Impetus Trust and Business Entrepreneur

 

“Craig has achieved fantastic things in his role at Speaking Up and while doing this has also provided ongoing support and encouragement to other would-be social entrepreneurs”. Karen Mattison: CEO of Women Like US:

 

“Craig has built up a deservedly high reputation among social entrepreneurs – for his achievements in leading the impressive growth of a very special organisation, without any dilution of its values or effectiveness, and for his often challenging, but always constructive, commentaries on the work and potential of the sector.”  David Carrington.