LinkedIn, the world’s largest online professional network, has today revealed the names of the twelve members who get the chance to offer professional advice to Sir Richard Branson himself as part of this year’s Virgin Media Business #VOOM 2016 competition. In what is seen for many as the opportunity of a lifetime, the twelve lucky LinkedIn members will play a pivotal role in helping Richard Branson seek out the UK and Ireland’s six most exciting businesses, acting as the competition’s “Professional Advisors.”
The twelve Professional Advisors, six men and six women, come from a variety of industry backgrounds spanning automotive, digital marketing, education and energy, providing a comprehensive panel of experts to help with the competition. Hailing from all areas of the UK, from Kilmarnock to Portsmouth, the Advisors will be joining forces in London on 1st June to help find the UK’s best entrepreneurs at the first stage of #VOOM 2016.
Tens of thousands of people entered the competition after LinkedIn revealed at least 4.7million professionals in the UK qualified to apply, following analysis of its 20million UK profiles. The “Professional Advisors” were chosen following a rigorous selection process to find the best talent the UK has to offer and will now form a key part of the judging panel to select the UK’s best entrepreneurs.
The twelve advisors cover each of the following disciplines; sales, operations, marketing and communications, legal, finance as well as existing experience in entrepreneurialism. The advisors will support Richard Branson in identifying which new and growing business ventures will benefit from a £1 million prize fund (€1.2million in Ireland) from Virgin Media Business and will have a hand in choosing which entrepreneurs and small-to-medium sized business will pitch their ideas to the UK’s most successful philanthropist.
The twelve “Professional Advisors” will be getting stuck in to their new roles by taking part in the VOOM 2016 29-hour pitchathon which is taking place on the 1st and 2nd of June. The twelve winners will form part of the judging panel, alongside guest judges and will be participating in a Guinness World Records ™ attempt for the Longest business pitch marathon. Six finalists will eventually be selected to go into the live finale on 28th June which will see Sir Richard Branson choose the recipients of a share of the £1million prize fund up for grabs (€1.2million in Ireland.)
Josh Graff, UK Country Manager & Senior Director, LinkedIn EMEA comments: “We’re delighted to be able to offer twelve of our UK members this golden opportunity to put their valuable skills and knowhow to the test, offering advice for one of the UK’s most famous entrepreneurs: Sir Richard Branson. Too often experience goes unrecognised and undocumented but these winners have demonstrated the value of sharing accomplishments and professional achievements and are reaping the rewards. I wish them the best of luck with judging the winning entrants.”
The full list of Professional Advisors is revealed as:
- Mike Higgins, VP Global Sales & Marketing, Wisetek
- Debbie Hunt, Divisional Head of Fleet Sales, Jardine Motors Group
- Monica Hart, Global Marketing Communications Manager, Cargill
- Bernadette Kelly, Business Director and Mentor, ActiveWin Media
- Angela Middleton, CEO and Founder, MiddletonMurray
- Sean Reel, Investor, Board Director and Mentor, StampsbyText International
- Iain Shirlaw, Economic Investment Advisor, Fife Council
- Colin Glass, Chartered Accountant, Business Advisor and Funding Specialist, WGN Chartered Accountants
- Mark Engelman, Head of Intellectual Property, Barrister, Hardwicke Building
- Suzanne Rab, Barrister, Serle Court
- Paul Freemantle, Co-founder and CTO, WSO2
- Manjiri Gokhale , Leadership Trainer and Project Mentor, Elephant Connect
For full details on how the winners were selected please visit https://www.vmbvoom.com/professionals
