So, who is the best motivational speaker in the UK? We know you must be dying to know!
With so many motivational speakers across the UK, we were delighted to see that our very own Jamie McDonald is still occupying the number one, top position. See image:
Following him are some incredible motivational speakers and here is a little bit about each one for you to take a look through.
So next time you are looking for a speaker for an event or conference, bear one of these individuals in mind (and if you want to find out more about the UK’s number one motivational speaker, and how he can make your event extra special) then keep reading…
1. Jamie McDonald
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One of Jamie’s unique abilities is to keep going, even when times are tough. In fact, since defying the odds to beat a debilitating childhood condition, he has run across some of the largest countries in the world and broken two of the toughest endurance Guinness world records on the planet. One record that was achieved in 7 days, was running more than 20 back-to-back marathons on hardly any sleep. Yes, we can assure you, he hallucinated a lot and even enjoyed an imaginary Elton John concert for one!
Jamie’s mission is all about giving back; raising money to help other sick children and to date, he has raised over a million pounds for charity and was a recent winner on ITV’s Pride of Britain.
Why good at speaking?
Jamie is a down-to-earth guy from Gloucester (with an oo’ah West Country accent) who’s achieved big, beyond what people thought was possible. The ‘down to earth’ bit means anyone and everyone can connect with his story.
At the start of his talks, he hits the stage as ‘Adventureman’, wearing a superhero suit and invites the audience to have a laugh along with him. So, it’s full of humour and sets Jamie up nicely to move the audience to deeply motivate them into thinking bigger and doing more of that in their personal and business life.
Jamie is all about self-empowerment, the power of positivity and digging deep when the going gets tough.
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2. Bear Grylls
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Who doesn’t know Bear Grylls, right? He’s the guy who drinks his own wee for fun!
But in all seriousness aside from him being one of the most recognised faces of survival and outdoor adventure, he was previously a member of the British Special Forces, who when he sadly broke his back in a parachute accident, made one of his re-hab goals to climb Everest. His story is truly incredible to hear.
Why good at speaking?
Due to his global presence, he immediately demands respect from any audience. His strong environmental message, whilst encouraging people’s responsibility for sustainability is an important current topic. Bear is honest, and professional and leads by example. You’d pay a high fee for Bear to be at your event but he’s definitely a huge contender for the best motivational speaker in the UK.
3. Debra Searle
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If you want a story of true grit and determination, then Debra Seale has got the one for you. Oh yeah, and she has an MBE. Debra and her husband set out to row across the Atlantic in 2002. But when Andrew, had to be rescued from their plywood rowing boat, this rowing ninja, carried on the journey on her own. Now that’s some strong arms and legs in that rowing boat.
Why good at speaking?
We all love a good adventurer and Debra’s story has everything from a competitive edge through to the determination needed to carry on rowing as a solo adventurer. She will have you on the edge of your seat listening to her journey across the Atlantic.
4. Sahar Hashemi
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Sahar is one of the UK’s most inspirational female entrepreneurs. She believes if you’re human, you’re an entrepreneur. Which we love.
Amongst other notable business successes, she grew ‘Coffee Republic’ from scratch to a £30m turnover. Now that takes some serious business savvy.
Why good at speaking?
Her passion for innovation and change shines through to any audience. She provides tools to the audience to create change for themselves and leaves a strong, long-lasting message that we are all responsible for our own success.
5. Katherine Grainger
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Not only is she one of London 2012’s memorable stars, Katherine is Britain’s most decorated female Olympian, winning medals at 5 consecutive Olympic Games. Now that’s girl power at its finest!
Why good at speaking?
Katherine has a warm speaking style, which backed up by her 20yr+ long career as a top rower, makes her one of the most highly regarded personalities in sporting history. Her fierce determination and proven ability to face adversity and challenge would guarantee a very engaging event, making her one of the best motivational speakers in the UK.
6. Derek Redmond
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Derek Anthony Redmond, a former British sprinter, achieved remarkable milestones in his athletic career. He once held the British record for the 400 meters sprint and secured gold medals in the 4×400 meters relay events at both the World Championships and European Championships. Such an incredible achievement.
Why good at speaking?
Derek’s style is one filled with inspiration and he shares with his audience the determination and motivation that is needed to achieve all that you want in life.
7. Adrian Hayes
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Adrian’s story is one of adventure and we are sure extreme temperatures. As a British record-breaking polar explorer, he completed the Three Poles Challenge. This involves walking to the North Pole, South Pile and the summit of Mount Everest. That is no mean feat.
Why good at speaking?
If you want a story filled full of highs and lows, much like the adventures Adrian undertook, then you will be both amazed and inspired by Hayes’ talks.
8. Jim Lawless
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Jim Lawless, a legal eagle turned performance coach, has helped leaders across 300+ brands unlock their full potential. He’s the author of “Taming Tigers,” transforming himself from a lawyer into a televised jockey and then, remarkably, becoming the British free-diver champion.
Why good at speaking?
On stage, Jim is a very funny, passionate, and brilliant speaker who inspires his audience to think outside the box. All of his feedback consistently receives praise as “inspiring sessions.”
9. Sean Conway
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Sean Conway, an adventurer and the author of six books, believes “Adventure is simply a way of thinking.” He has pushed the limits of human endurance, breaking the world record for cycling across Europe. He has also swum the length of Britain and completed 105 back-to-back full Ironman Triathlon distances.
Why good at speaking?
Sean has a great sense of humour and focuses on the message of resilience, emphasising the importance of “never giving up.” He shares insights into his failures, highlighting how they have helped him overcome challenges and achieve impossible feats, something we can all learn from.
10. Pete Cohen
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Pete is a world-renowned speaker and author who specialises in human behaviour and leadership. His talks are fun and interactive, which we believe is the only way to go when it comes to sharing your story with an audience.
Why good at speaking?
He delivers strategies that people can use to help overcome their limiting beliefs. These strategies can help support individuals and teams in the workplace to thrive. He has a passion for helping people realise their full potential.
11. Ben Saunders
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Ben is a global brand ambassador for several noteworthy organisations including ‘The Prince’s Trust’ and a patron and fellow of ‘British Exploring’. He’s a record-breaking long-distance skier and one of the world’s leading polar explorers, breaking records previously held by Scott & Shackleton.
Why good at speaking?
He has a humorous and humbling speaking style that grabs your attention. His stories and achievements are totally compelling, providing top-class inspiration for any listener. As well as being very well known for his worldwide TED talks. He’s hugely inspirational and any event that books Ben, we’d say they’d feel like they have booked the best motivational speaker in the UK.
12. Tarka L’Herpiniere
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Tarka’s childhood was spent growing up in the French Alps, where he developed a keen passion for adventurous activities too many to mention. But one of those with key importance, was when he made history completing Scott’s iconic 1,795-mile Terra Nova route, pushing himself to the brink of physical and mental endurance.
Why good at speaking?
Who doesn’t want to hear from a world-class explorer who’s pretty savvy with technology, who can enthral audiences not only with his captivating stories but with incredible video and photo footage too? He’s also a very handsome man – at least that’s what Jamie’s lady says, so he gets bonus points for that! So for that, he deserves to be in the running for the accolade to be the best motivational speaker in the UK.
13. Anna McNuff
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Here is a woman whose story we know all too well. Anna is an incredible endurance athlete having completed a run the distance of 90 marathons through Great Britain, in her bare feet! Anna is the one and only Girl Guiding Ambassador. Through this role and her work in general, Anna is inspiring a new generation to realise their potential, develop their resilience and carve their own path in the world.
Why good at speaking?
Anna has a warm and welcoming style to her talks. She expertly delivers talks on resilience, growth mindset and how we can all realise our own innate potential. She really is a true adventurer both in her professional and personal life and she shares her story with incredible passion to her audiences.
14. Robert Holden
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Dr Robert Holden is a pioneer in the field of positive psychology and personal wellbeing. He’s also the Director/Founder of ‘Success Intelligence’ and ‘The Happiness Project’ and his ‘I Can Do It’ presentations have had great success, particularly in the USA.
Why good at speaking?
He has a captivating manner, that leaves people feeling uplifted. His forward thinking and innovative speaking style ensures his audience glow with positivity, long after the session is finished. Which we think stands him in good stead to be the best motivational speaker in the UK.
15. Marcus Buckingham
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A former senior scientist and best-selling author, Marcus is a leading expert on Talent and Employee Engagement. He’s dedicated himself to understanding what makes world-class managers tick and is right up there as one of the best motivational speakers in the UK.
Bucking the trend, he’s also championed a revolutionary concept that people will always be more effective & successful when they play to their strongest skill set, rather than constantly trying to improve their weaknesses.
Why good at speaking?
Think ‘management guru’ with a mix of an ‘inspirational data geek’!! His proven performance analyst concept is compelling and thought-provoking.
Final thoughts:
Impressive accolades right? Now you can see why we’re totally over the moon to be heading up this list of fantastic speakers – all brilliant in their own right.
All of them able to enthuse the most downbeat demeanour with the power of their individual stories and inspire people to become the best versions of themselves….. and we all need a bit of that now and again!
I hope you have enjoyed the ‘Best Motivational Speaker in the UK‘ write up? If you have, please do share it with any of your colleagues that you know maybe interested in booking one of the best motivational speakers for their event.
If you’re still unsure which speaker would be the right fit for your event, then I’d highly recommend reading another of our blogs, what to look out for when booking a motivational speaker.
Seriously though, with a bit of thought, time and energy, you can easily book one of the best motivational speakers in the UK.
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