Joy McKenzie is the best-selling author, journalist, TV presenter and entrepreneur. Nominated for an EFBWBO ‘Innovation’ Award and ‘Young Entrepreneur’ Award, Joy is often headhunted for her particular expertise, ‘strategic thinking’ to creatively conceptualise and directing new ideas. As a seasoned networker, Joy has hosted hundreds of high powered events which have included business breakfasts’, social soirees and evening salons, including the ‘Women Millionaires Club’ - and in 2002 Joy was recognised for her work and was voted ‘Networker of the Year’ by the New Statesman magazine. More recently, Joy’s passion for fashion has been her driving force for setting up ‘Looking Like A Million Dollars’- her fashion networking club. The pilot event will be launched during Enterprise Week ‘07.

I am the Business Programme Manager for The Prince’s Trust in Birmingham and Solihull. This means I am responsible for starting 140 new businesses across Birmingham and Solihull for young people aged 18-30. We give advice, guidance and funding to help start those businesses. As well as this I have a network of over 150 mentors to help our businesses across a wide range of solicitors, accountants, business men and women and many other trades and skills. I also have around 400 active businesses to choose from if you need anything and I can connect you quickly to a whole range of different people and businesses to help with any needs you or your business may have. -

Jonathan Pfahl is the owner and Managing Director of the Rockstar Group of Companies. Jonathan has spent his entire business career in setting up companies and investing in both shares and property. After completing a triple major degree of Applied Economics at the University of Sydney, specialising in finance, he moved straight into his career as a professional investor His investment career began at Goldman Sachs Australia where he worked there as an investment advisor for four years before moving to London to set up his own businesses. He now runs the Rockstar Group of companies which offers affordable mentoring for entrepreneurs looking to start or grow their business. Through a combination of one to one mentoring on an on-going basis and continual promotion of your products and services to key customers, the team at Rockstar are dedicated to seeing their members businesses succeed. Jonathan’s hobbies include golf, rugby and music. He is incredibly passionate about investing. His motto in life is “this is no dress rehearsal this is it!” and his favourite books are “How to get rich” by Felix Dennis and “Anyone can do it” by Duncan Bannatyne. He says this is because they both tell it how …

My name is Jake Stride, I run a software development company in Coventry working with Open Source software developing bespoke CRM and large web systems for customers around the world. Our EGS software is used by people around the world, and are launching a new web-based CRM system that starts for free at www.tactilecrm.com.

I graduated from Liverpool John Moores with Media and Cultural Studies degree then went on to further education also at John Moores MA in Marketing and CIM qualifications. Worked in several companies (private and public sector) and now I’m working for myself. My business is Marketing/PR/Events consultancy and my main client is 08 businessconnect - the business club for the Capital of Culture.

I have over a decade worth of experience working in the private sector with particular emphasis on managing retail operations for a big blue chip retailer. I have also setup my own businesses and successfully sold them on before I got involved with the Grid. Having caught the entrepreneurial bug whilst running my own businesses I felt I wanted to do something more than just make money, and try and make a difference and make a positive contribution to the disadvantaged people in deprived/regeneration areas. I am passionate about enterprise and enjoy engaging with people from a wide variety of backgrounds and am currently engaged in creating an entrepreneurial buzz in Bradford helping entrepreneurs from various backgrounds to achieve their maximum potential.