Resilience keynotes for Hull and the Humber
Hull was a whaling and fishing port, then UK City of Culture in 2017, and now makes offshore wind turbine blades. Paris brings The Grit Code to its teams.
A port city facing the sea
Kingston upon Hull was a fishing and whaling centre for centuries. Its MP William Wilberforce led the campaign to abolish the slave trade.
Siemens and Associated British Ports agreed in 2011 to build a wind turbine blade factory at Alexander Dock. Reckitt and BP also have facilities in the city.
Hull was UK City of Culture in 2017. The Deep, its aquarium on the Humber, is also a centre for marine research, which ties in with Paris’s row for marine conservation.
Who Paris speaks to in Hull
Offshore wind
Resilience for engineering and offshore crews.
Ports and shipping
Keynotes for port teams.
Consumer goods
Talks for production and R&D staff.
University of Hull
Sessions for students and staff.
Where Hull meets
Connexin Live, the City Hall and venues on the marina host Hull’s conferences and gala dinners.
- Connexin Live – a city-centre arena opened in 2018
- Hull City Hall – an Edwardian concert hall on Queen Victoria Square
- The Deep – an aquarium opened in 2002 at the mouth of the River Hull
Keynote, workshop or virtual
Choose the flagship Grit Code keynote (45–60 min), a Grit Deconstruction workshop (90 min to half day), a 30–45 min virtual keynote, or Paris as host and MC for the day. 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.
Paris rowed 4,800 km across the Pacific for marine conservation. Watch the film. 39 days at sea: the Pacific row film · Keynote speaker Leeds · Keynote speaker York
How a booking works
Available for in-person events in Hull, 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.
Hull’s economy and who the talk is for
Hull has a population of about 260,200 (2016 figure, Wikidata), which makes it a substantial market for conferences, leadership events and company gatherings.
Hull is the head-office city for organisations such as KCOM Group (telecommunications industry).
Telecoms (KCOM Group). Telecoms businesses run networks that can never stop. Paris has spoken for Nokia, and his message on steady, disciplined effort under pressure suits network, sales and customer teams alike.
How a Grit Code session works
- Paris starts with a short briefing call to understand the room, the sector and the challenge in front of it.
- The keynote uses film from his expeditions and TV work to make each idea concrete.
- Many organisers pair it with a Grit Deconstruction workshop or ask Paris to host the full day.
The content is shaped around Hull 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 Hull
These are typical Hull events for The Grit Code:
- 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
- Past speaking clients include Nokia, DHL, Kraft Heinz, IHG, Dubai Airports, Expo 2020, COP28 and the UN Tourism General Assembly.
- 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.
- In 2023 he rowed 4,800 km across the Pacific with three teammates, raising more than £150,000 for marine conservation.
Common questions
Can I book Paris Norriss as a keynote speaker in Hull?
Yes. Paris takes Hull bookings for keynotes, workshops and hosting, live or virtual.
Does Paris speak to offshore and energy teams?
Yes. His time at sea gives him real stories about weather, fatigue and safety.
Can Paris speak at a marine or conservation event?
Yes. His Pacific row raised more than £150,000 for marine conservation.
Which Hull industries is The Grit Code suited to?
The keynote is tailored to each sector. In Hull it suits telecoms 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 Hull?
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 Hull?
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.
More about Paris: About · The Grit Code · TV shows · Contact