020 8914 8966
020 8914 8966
Duncan Bannatyne is a serial entrepreneur known from his presence on the hugely successful BBC2 show Dragons Den. The show is very much BBC’s X factor for entrepreneurs and the first series secured viewing figures of over 3 million. It also recorded one of the channel’s highest ever audience appreciation figures for a new programme. Duncan has now appeared on 12 series of the programme over an outstanding 10 years. However, in 2015 due to work commitments, Duncan decided to give up his seat in the Den, which left Peter Jones as the only original Dragon from 2005.
Whilst in the Den, would-be entrepreneurs presented their ideas to Duncan and the dragons and they decided whether or not they got his business know how.but more importantly, his investment! The show received a huge amount of attention, and proved to be very popular with that perfect formula. So much so, that BBC have now produced an outstanding 12 series of The Dragon’s Den and a 13th is now in the pipeline.
There were occasions on the show when Duncan was accused of being a little Simon Cowellesque in his approach but he openly admitted he was there to invest with the view of making money, he was not there to win a popularity contest.
It was Duncan’s tremendous entrepreneurial instincts, commercial nous and his business success that has made him the business TV. expert that he has become, there is no other, that meets the criteria better than Duncan, who is a completely self-made man in its purest form.
He grew up in Clydebank and in his early teens he joined the Navy. He left the Navy at 19 after a disagreement with a commanding officer and lived in Jersey where he gained a reputation as a bit of a party animal. It was when sitting on the beach one morning, with nothing to his name, that he boldly told his then girlfriend they were moving back to mainland Britain to start in business and become millionaires. Never have truer words been spoken !!
Duncan moved to Stockton-On-Tees with his now ex-wife and bought an ice-cream van for 450 and, at the age of 31, had his own business. Duncan’s Super Ices expanded to four vans and a turnover of 300,000. He sold up and founded Quality Care Nursing Homes with 2 share capital, floated it on the stock exchange five years later, and a further five years later sold for 46 million.
Unable to find a nursery place for his children, he set up Just Learning Children’s Day Nurseries Ltd with 2 share capital and sold it five years later for 22 million.
On suffering a serious leg injury which took him into a gym for the first time, not an experience which he enjoyed, as a result he subsequently set up Bannatyne Fitness Ltd a health club chain which has an annual turnover in excess of 40million, more than 35 health clubs all up to the Duncan Bannatyne standard!
He purchased a derelict building close to his Head Office, which he thought was a bit of any eyesore and then went on to develop the first Bannatyne Hotel. This 60 bedroom hotel is in the centre of Darlington and is normally full to capacity with a waiting list. Bannatyne Hotels Ltd now have two more hotels in Durham and Hastings.
He had plans to build a UK casino empire and opened the first Bannatyne Casino in Newcastle on the 14th February 2005. He also established Bannatyne Housing Ltd.
It is often wondered, if he was to think back on that beach in Jersey could Duncan Bannatyne have ever imagined he would have achieved all of the above, all of his personal dreams and ambitions and amassed an estimated personal fortune of over 150 Million.
Duncan is one of the most successful and respected businessmen in the country. He is not only establishing himself as the Troubleshooter of today for businesses, business ideas and individuals, but he is also being shown by many as the light and example for the youth of today to follow find that get up and go and go and make those millions.. He was also asked to present a series of radio slots for Barclays small business advisory service.
When he is not presenting or running one of the country’s most profitable and largest independently owned businesses, Duncan Bannatyne likes to spend his time with his family, or pursuing his hobbies and sports such as running, climbing, water skiing and scuba diving. He dedicates a great deal of his time working with charitable organisations such as UNICEF and Scottish International Relief. He also funded the Bannatyne Hospices for Children with HIV and AIDS in Romania and Colombia.
Duncan Bannatyne is available for motivational speaking. Contact SpeakOut for details on 0131 440 9226. Or click on the Enquire Now button below.
