Keynotes beneath Lancaster Castle
Lancaster is a university city with a Roman fort, a Norman castle and a famous folly on its skyline. Paris brings The Grit Code to its campus and businesses.
A charter in 1193, a city in 1937
Lancaster received its first charter as a market town in 1193 but had to wait until 1937 for city status. The castle stands on the hill where a Roman fort was built in the 1st century.
The castle is best known as the site of the Pendle witch trials of 1612. The Duchy of Lancaster still holds estates for the King, who is Duke of Lancaster.
The Ashton Memorial in Williamson Park, about 150 feet tall, has been called “England’s grandest folly”. Lancaster University and a campus of the University of Cumbria make education a major sector.
Who Paris speaks to in Lancaster
Lancaster University
Talks for students, staff and alumni events.
Labs and spin-outs
Persistence for long projects.
NHS teams
Resilience for clinical staff.
North Lancashire firms
Kick-offs for growing companies.
Where Lancaster meets
Events in Lancaster usually happen on the university campus, in the castle and in the city-centre hotels.
- Lancaster University – its 300-acre Bailrigg campus south of the city
- Ashton Memorial – the copper-domed folly in Williamson Park
- Lancaster Castle – on the site of the Roman fort
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 →
Stories with the miles behind them
Seven marathons in under six days
Antarctica, Cape Town, Perth, Dubai, Madrid, Fortaleza and Miami: 7 marathons on 7 continents in 5 days, 21 hours and 51 minutes.
Across the Pacific by rowing boat
A 4,800 km row in 2023 that raised more than £150,000 for marine conservation.
Watch the Pacific row film, the crossing behind much of the keynote. 39 days at sea: the Pacific row film · Keynote speaker Manchester · Keynote speaker Preston
How a booking works
Available for in-person events in Lancaster, 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.
Lancaster’s economy and who the talk is for
Lancaster has a population of about 52,660 (2021 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 Lancaster 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 Lancaster
Organisers in Lancaster usually book Paris for one of these occasions:
- Kick-off meetings for new financial years, projects or teams.
- Industry association conferences and trade-show main stages.
- Executive retreats that pair the keynote with a Grit Deconstruction workshop.
- Hybrid all-hands meetings with a virtual version for remote staff.
Credentials at a glance
- His TV shows have been distributed in 123 countries, and Guy in Dubai has 22 million views.
- He is the CEO of Blazing Sand Studios, an AI video production company.
- 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.
Common questions
Can I book Paris Norriss as a keynote speaker in Lancaster?
Yes. Paris takes Lancaster bookings for keynotes, workshops and hosting, live or virtual.
Can Paris speak at a Lancaster University event?
Yes. He speaks to students, researchers and alumni, and adapts the talk for each group.
Does Paris run workshops for research teams?
Yes. The Grit Deconstruction workshop maps where a team breaks under pressure and how to fix it.
Is there a workshop option for teams in Lancaster?
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 Lancaster?
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.
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