Duane Jackson is what some people would call a serial entrepreneur, although he’s not comfortable with the label himself. He just sees himself as “very busy”. As well as running Key One (a web development company) or KashFlow (a provider of bookkeeping software), he is also involved in two other privately owned start-ups. Between all these other responsibilities he also helps to moderate the UK Business Forums and run the London based networking group, trustNetworkers

Mark Picken, is Managing Director of marketing and design agency mpad. His aim as a businessman is to help clients to communicate effectively with their customers through a mix of marketing, public relations, advertising and design. As a result of this, and the frustration with the lack of opportunities for young business owners to connect in Cornwall, Mark established The Hub, which now has over 700 members.

I am VP of Business Development for Viadeo UK and Ireland, I am passionate about the internet, social networks, networking and generally building partnerships, meeting and connecting with people. As a connector, I think it is important to think about building a valuable business network from the day we start out on our careers because we now have the knowledge and technology to access a wealth of contacts, information and opportunities that we would otherwise not realize or be lost. As the old saying goes ‘It’s not what you know but who you know!’ Having joined Viadeo since 2007, Viadeo is one of the world’s largest business social networks with over 1.6 million members across Europe and allows you network in 7 languages (English, French, German, Italian, Spanish, Dutch and Portuguese). The network is free to join and members use Viadeo to find clients, suppliers, business partners, jobs and employees from all over the world online. Viadeo also allows you to post ads, participate in business forums and to organise and manage offline networking events. Originally founded in 2003 by 200 high-flying entrepreneurs in France, Viadeo started as a private network of business people who realised that they could share …

Dominique runs Liverpool JMU’s Start-Up Network for student and graduate entrepreneurs and anyone else with an interest in business start-up. Liverpool JMU has helped many of its students to develop their business ideas and can extend this support to graduates. The Network hosts regular events and is also on Facebook.

My background is as a Software Engineer and I work for a medical device company, In my spare time I run the Girl Geek Dinners network of events and host the London Girl Geek Dinner events. I guess you would call me a bit of a Girl Geek really… You can usually find me playing with tech toys and gadgets. I rarely sit still. I’m usually doing something and I’m a bit of a sports enthusiast.

My name is Nwaukor Ugo Hillary, I am an MBA student at UEL Business School Docklands London , I am the current President of Entrepreneurs Society UEL; NUS UELsu Best Society of the year 07/08

Robert is President of Kingston University Entrepreneurs Society. I am a very pro-active networker and I try to focus on creating win win outcomes. My passion is people and property. I enjoy creating deals and negotiating. I have set up several companies since I have been young. I got into business from primary school, and into property as a teenager, I am a great believer in having a positive view in life, and constantl learning while more importantly taking ACTION!

I am Managing Director of The Conch, a community-powered guide for adventurous people. I am passionate about adventure in all its forms. Founded in 2006 with support from the National Endowment for Science, Technology and the Arts (NESTA), The Conch aims to bring together everyone involved in the adventure travel journey; locals and travellers, businesses and advertisers, to share stories and advice in their own words and their own voices. Launching in April 2008, Club Conch provides affordable adventure activities for entrepreneurs and busy professionals across England’s North West. We arrange single day events wherever possible, making them easy to fit into the busiest schedule. For more information visit http://blog.theconch.com

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.

Yasmin and her business partner Clare launced Go-Woman! just under two years in the West Midlands region after discovering that many women find traditional business support awe inspiring, overcomplicated and often dismissive of micro enterprises. Go-Woman! supports women in enterprise from start up through to business growth. Go-Woman! aims to centralise exisiting support services for women in business as well as profiling inspiring female entrepreneurs.