The co-founder of Just Eat UK, David Buttress, is a well known face around South Wales, not only for the multi-billion pound business he founded, but his active role as Non-Executive Chairman of the Dragons rugby team.
David is one of those real success stories. Having left a flourishing career with Coca-Cola, he joined JUST EAT in March 2006 to launch its UK business, an enterprise he started in his basement London flat. It was by no means an instant hit, in the first month he turned over just £36. By the time he stood down as chief executive, the company had a market capitalisation of £5bn.
And now David is aiming to inspire a new generation of entrepreneurs as part of NatWest’s ‘An Audience With’ series.
The bank has been running these events as part of its digital support of businesses during lockdown and covid restrictions. David, who is now a venture partner with global venture capital firm 83North, will be the guest entrepreneur at the next free event on 25th November.
Previous guests include former Dragon’s Den investors Jenny Campbell and Theo Paphitis, and Scottish entrepreneur and philanthropist Sir Tom Hunter.
David said:
“Entrepreneurs are the backbone of any economy creating jobs, innovations and opportunities. It is this kind of talent that we should be nurturing and supporting so entrepreneurs are able to thrive. That is why I am so pleased to be taking part in this event with NatWest.”
“I want to help inspire a new generation of innovators and pioneers by sharing the highs and lows of what I have learned throughout my career. Knowledge is so empowering to any business – big or small – so I hope those that attend will get a lot from it. I’m really looking forward to taking part.”
Siwan Rees, NatWest Entrepreneur Acceleration Manager, added:
“We’re so excited to have David joining us for this special event. His journey as an entrepreneur is an inspirational story, and the advice he’ll be able to give will be priceless for those who are thinking about or have started their own business.”
NatWest has been working to ensure entrepreneurs continue getting the support they need during the pandemic.
It recently announced the launch of a new competition to celebrate Global Entrepreneurship Week, which began on Monday, where the bank will show new businesses, start-ups and entrepreneurs how to write a 60-second pitch, with the chance to take home £10,000.
The bank is running run hundreds of free virtual pitching workshops around the country throughout this week where they’ll help participants structure, write and deliver a killer 60-second pitch, helping them stand out from the crowd by sharing themselves or their business idea in a concise, compelling and creative way.
Businesses can get involved by signing up to a pitching event and submitting their final pitch via YouTube by 30 November 2020. A panel will then select 25 finalists, who will be invited to pitch at the live Grand Final Event in early 2021 for a chance to win the grand prize of £10,000. Four runners up will also receive 6 months free coaching from NatWest’s Accelerator Team.
You can still register for these events on the following dates.
As for the ‘AUDIENCE WITH DAVID BUTTRESS’ to register for that free event, just go here. DAVID