Keynotes for Gloucester’s teams
Gloucester is a Roman city on the Severn, an inland port and the birthplace of the Gloster jet aircraft. Paris brings The Grit Code to its employers.
Glevum, the docks and the jet age
Glevum was founded around AD 48 at a crossing of the River Severn. The city is still a port, linked to the Severn Estuary by the Gloucester and Sharpness Canal.
Gloucester Cathedral, where Edward II is buried, featured in the Harry Potter films. The Gloster Aircraft Company took its name in 1926, and a sculpture in the centre marks the city’s role in the jet engine.
The insurer Ecclesiastical and its owner, the Benefact Trust, are based in the city. Kingsholm is home to Gloucester Rugby, founded in 1873.
Who Paris speaks to in Gloucester
Insurance and finance
Keynotes on risk and steady leadership.
Aerospace and engineering
Resilience for technical teams.
Rugby and community sport
Talks on persistence and team culture.
County and city councils
Sessions for frontline staff.
Where Gloucester meets
Gloucester’s events tend to take place at Kingsholm, in the docks warehouses and around the cathedral.
- Kingsholm Stadium – home of Gloucester Rugby
- Gloucester Cathedral – used for concerts and civic events
- Gloucester Docks – fourteen listed Victorian warehouses around the basin
Keynote, workshop or virtual
Most Gloucester organisers book the 45–60 minute Grit Code keynote. Teams that want depth add a Grit Deconstruction workshop of 90 minutes to half a day, remote audiences get a 30–45 minute virtual version, and Paris can also host and moderate full-day events. Compare formats →
Why audiences believe him
5 days, 21 hours, 51 minutes
The time it took Paris to run 7 marathons on 7 continents: Antarctica, Cape Town, Perth, Dubai, Madrid, Fortaleza and Miami.
More than £150,000 raised
For marine conservation, by rowing 4,800 km across the Pacific in 2023.
Read about The Grit Code, or see Paris’s page for Bath, his home town. The Grit Code keynote · Keynote speaker Bath · Keynote speaker Bristol
How a booking works
Available for in-person events in Gloucester, or virtually in your local time zone.
Organisers typically book UK speakers about three months ahead, and shorter notice is sometimes possible, so it is worth asking.
See also keynote speaker in the UK, or browse all keynote speaker locations.
Gloucester’s economy and who the talk is for
Gloucester has a population of about 145,563 (2016 figure, Wikidata), which makes it a substantial market for conferences, leadership events and company gatherings.
How a Grit Code session works
- Each booking begins with a call about the audience and what success looks like after the event.
- The talk turns the 7-marathon challenge and the Pacific row into habits teams can use on Monday morning.
- A virtual version of 30–45 minutes is available for distributed teams.
The content is shaped around Gloucester 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.
Where the talk fits in Gloucester
Organisers in Gloucester usually book Paris for one of these occasions:
- Annual company conferences and town halls.
- Change and transformation programmes, including AI adoption.
- Safety, wellbeing and performance days for operations teams.
- Charity dinners and community events, which Paris knows well as an ambassador for Gulf for Good.
Credentials at a glance
- In 2023 he rowed 4,800 km across the Pacific with three teammates, raising more than £150,000 for marine conservation.
- He is the CEO of Blazing Sand Studios, an AI video production company.
- He ran 7 marathons on 7 continents in 5 days, 21 hours and 51 minutes.
- His TV shows have been distributed in 123 countries, and Guy in Dubai has 22 million views.
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.
Common questions
Can I book Paris Norriss as a keynote speaker in Gloucester?
Yes. Paris takes Gloucester bookings for keynotes, workshops and hosting, live or virtual.
Does Paris speak to insurance teams?
Yes. He tailors the keynote to risk, change and resilience.
Can Paris speak at a rugby club dinner?
Yes. He gives after-dinner talks and can host awards evenings.
Is there a workshop option for teams in Gloucester?
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 Gloucester?
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.
More about Paris: About · The Grit Code · TV shows · Contact