31st March 2010 - Sir Clive Offers Lessons In Leadership

The mastermind behind one of the greatest achievements in English sport is set to inspire North East entrepreneurs when he returns to the region for the first time in seven years.

Sir Clive Woodward, whose England side famously claimed the Rugby World Cup in 2003, will reveal the secrets that have brought him unprecedented levels of success in both sport and business.

His return has been secured by the Entrepreneurs’ Forum and comes amid calls from some quarters that the former England head coach should be brought back by the RFU to revitalise the national side.

Now Director of Elite Performance with the British Olympic Association, Sir Clive was responsible for the British team’s preparation for Beijing 2008 and is overseeing the development of Team GB as the country looks for a record medal haul at London 2012.

He was a keynote speaker at the inaugural Entrepreneurs’ Forum conference in 2004, just a year after England’s historic World Cup win. Considered by many to be one of the best speakers the region has ever welcomed, he is returning for a Lessons in Leadership master class event on Tuesday, April 20, at the Hilton Hotel in Gateshead.

Sir Clive, who spent part of his childhood in York, is well placed to offer expert tips on teamwork and motivation having forged a career in business with Xerox and Portfolio Leasing in both the UK and Australia before establishing his own finance company.

As a rugby amateur, he played for the Leicester Tigers and was capped 21 times for England, as well as touring twice with the British Lions. After emigrating to Australia and playing for Manly, Sir Clive began to study the game closely and developed a belief that the previously dominant southern hemisphere sides could be beaten with the right level of preparation.

He was appointed as the first full time professional coached in the English game in 1997 after spells at London Irish, Bath and as coach of England Under-21s for three seasons. England’s famous victory over Australia in the dying moments of extra-time in the 2003 World Cup has gone down as one of the iconic moments of sport, with Jonny Wilkinson’s drop goal clinching the world championship for a northern hemisphere team for the first time.

The historic triumph brought a wealth of accolades for Sir Clive, who was named BBC Coach of the Year and International Rugby Board Coach of the Year in 2003. The following year, he was knighted and took the UK Coach of the Year title. In 2005 he joined Southampton Football Club as Performance Director and later Director of Football.

Carole Beverley, chief executive of the Entrepreneurs’ Forum, said: “When Sir Clive last spoke to the region’s entrepreneurs at our first ever annual conference in 2004 it was a truly inspirational occasion for everyone who was present and is still talked about with great enthusiasm.

“Sir Clive is not only a national hero and a genius in sporting terms, he is also a visionary who sets challenging and sometimes controversial expectations. His track record in both rugby and business is exceptional, aided by his remarkable motivational skills. We are thrilled to have him back in the North East.”

The Lessons in Leadership master class takes place from 1pm-5pm on April 20. Places cost £75+VAT for Forum members and £95 +VAT for non-members.

For further information click here and to book contact the Forum on 0870 850 2233, or email info@entrepreneursforum.net