Sir Tom Hunter to Address Business in Parliament Conference

03.04.2012

Sir Tom Hunter has been announced as the key note speaker for this year’s Business in the Parliament conference. Taking place in Holyrood on Thursday 7 and Friday 8 June, the focus is on Scotland’s entrepreneurialism. The conference will examine whether there is still the desire amongst the current and future generation of business leaders to start, grow and develop their companies.

A strong advocate of entrepreneurialism, Sir Tom will address the delegates on its importance in promoting economic growth.

Jointly organised by the Scottish Parliament and Scottish Government, the conference brings together MSPs and senior figures from businesses and organisations across the country.

The conference is also supported by all the main business organisations in Scotland (CBI Scotland, Federation of Small Business, Scottish Council for Development and Industry, Institute of Directors, Scottish Chambers of Commerce and Scottish Financial Enterprise) as well as the STUC and the Parliament’s Business Exchange.

The full programme will be announced before the end of April.

Background

Sir Tom set up his first business with a £5,000 loan from his father and £5,000 loan from the bank. He started selling trainers/sneakers from the back of a van and went on to build Europe’s largest independent sports retailer, Sports Division subsequently selling it for £290 million in 1998. He set up West Coast Capital in 2001 and combined this opportunity with a significant commitment to philanthropy having invested in excess of £50 million to date into social causes through The Hunter Foundation. He was Knighted in 2005 for services to entrepreneurship and philanthropy.