Resilience keynotes for Doncaster’s newest city
Doncaster became a city in 2022, but it has been building things for much longer. Paris brings The Grit Code to its rail, logistics and business communities.
Railway works to inland port
Doncaster’s railway works built the Flying Scotsman and Mallard, two of the most famous locomotives in the world.
City status came in the Platinum Jubilee honours and was formally conferred in November 2022.
Its iPort rail freight terminal and large warehouses make it a national distribution hub for retailers such as Next, Tesco, IKEA and Amazon. Doncaster Racecourse runs the St Leger, established in 1776 and the oldest of Britain’s five Classic races.
Who Paris speaks to in Doncaster
Warehousing and freight
Talks for teams that keep the shelves stocked.
Rail engineering
Resilience for maintenance and project teams.
Retail operations
Keynotes for distribution-centre leaders.
Racing and hospitality
Sessions for event and hospitality crews.
Event venues
The racecourse is Doncaster’s main conference space; it hosted a national party conference in 2014.
- Doncaster Racecourse – home of the St Leger, which also hosts conferences
- The Dome – a leisure complex opened in 1989
- City-centre hotels – for dinners and training days
Ways to book Paris in Doncaster
The Grit Code keynote (45–60 min) · Grit Deconstruction workshop (90 min to half day) · virtual keynote (30–45 min) · event host and MC. Compare formats →
Tested at sea, on the ice and on stage
7 marathons, 7 continents
Antarctica, Cape Town, Perth, Dubai, Madrid, Fortaleza and Miami in 5 days, 21 hours and 51 minutes.
Rowed the Pacific
4,800 km in 2023, raising more than £150,000 for marine conservation.
Watch the film of Paris’s 39 days rowing the Pacific. 39 days at sea: the Pacific row film · Keynote speaker Sheffield · Keynote speaker Leeds
Booking for Doncaster
Available for in-person events in Doncaster, or virtually in your local time zone.
Organisers typically book UK speakers about three months ahead, so get in touch early to secure your date.
See also keynote speaker in the UK, or browse all keynote speaker locations.
Doncaster’s economy and who the talk is for
Doncaster has a population of about 109,805 (2011 figure, Wikidata), which makes it a substantial market for conferences, leadership events and company gatherings.
Businesses with their headquarters in Doncaster include DFS (retail).
Retail and consumer goods (DFS). Retail and consumer brands live and die by execution. Paris has spoken for Kraft Heinz and Al Kabeer Foods, and the keynote helps sales and store teams keep going through peak seasons and tough trading.
How a Grit Code session works
- Before the event, Paris speaks with the organiser about the audience and the outcome they want.
- On the day, the 45–60 minute Grit Code keynote mixes adventure film, stories and practical tools.
- Afterwards, teams can go deeper with a Grit Deconstruction workshop of 90 minutes to half a day.
The content is shaped around Doncaster organisations and their goals, so the room hears examples that match its own challenges. Paris presents as an adventurer and CEO of Blazing Sand Studios, not as a theorist.
Credentials at a glance
- His TV shows have been distributed in 123 countries, and Guy in Dubai has 22 million views.
- He ran 7 marathons on 7 continents in 5 days, 21 hours and 51 minutes.
- In 2023 he rowed 4,800 km across the Pacific with three teammates, raising more than £150,000 for marine conservation.
- Past speaking clients include Nokia, DHL, Kraft Heinz, IHG, Dubai Airports, Expo 2020, COP28 and the UN Tourism General Assembly.
Formats, timing and next steps
Most organisers book a 45–60 minute Grit Code keynote with Q&A. Teams that want to go further add the Grit Deconstruction workshop, which runs from 90 minutes to half a day and turns the talk into habits and commitments the group can use on Monday morning.
A 30–45 minute virtual version is available for remote or hybrid audiences. Paris can also host the full day as MC, which keeps the tone consistent from the opening to the close. He is CEO of Blazing Sand Studios, so the briefing call covers both the audience’s goals and the practical run-of-show.
Past clients include Nokia, DHL, Kraft Heinz, IHG, Dubai Airports, Expo 2020, COP28 and the UN Tourism General Assembly. His TV shows have been distributed in 123 countries, and Guy in Dubai has 22 million views. The talk draws on the 7 marathons on 7 continents in 5 days, 21 hours and 51 minutes, and on the 2023 Pacific row of 4,800 km that raised more than £150,000 for marine conservation.
To book, share the date, venue or virtual platform, audience size and the outcome you want. Paris replies with a short outline tailored to your room, then joins a briefing call before the event.
Questions from Doncaster organisers
Can I book Paris Norriss as a keynote speaker in Doncaster?
Yes. Organisers in Doncaster can book him in person or for a virtual session.
Does Paris speak to distribution-centre teams?
Yes. The keynote can focus on pressure, peaks and keeping a team together.
Can Paris speak at a racecourse event?
Yes. He can keynote a conference or host a hospitality day.
Which Doncaster industries is The Grit Code suited to?
The keynote is tailored to each sector. In Doncaster it suits retail and consumer goods audiences in particular, along with leadership teams, sales kick-offs and all-hands meetings in any industry.
Is there a workshop option for teams in Doncaster?
Yes. The Grit Deconstruction workshop runs from 90 minutes to half a day and turns the keynote’s ideas into team habits and actions.
Can the keynote be delivered online for teams in Doncaster?
Yes. A 30–45 minute virtual version is available for remote or hybrid audiences, delivered in your local time zone.
Who has Paris spoken for?
Past clients include Nokia, DHL, Kraft Heinz, IHG, Dubai Airports, Expo 2020, COP28 and the UN Tourism General Assembly.
How far in advance should we book?
Most organisers book between four and twelve weeks ahead. Last-minute bookings are sometimes possible if the date is free, especially for virtual sessions.
Does Paris travel for in-person events?
Yes. He speaks at conferences and company events worldwide, in person or virtually, and shapes each talk around the local audience.
What does the briefing call cover?
Audience profile, the outcome you want, industry language to use or avoid, AV needs, and whether a workshop or MC role is part of the day.
Check a date for Doncaster
Send the basics and Paris’s team will reply, or book a call.