Grit for the city of insurance and ideas
Norwich is where Norwich Union began in 1797 and where England’s first UNESCO City of Literature was named. Paris brings The Grit Code to its businesses and researchers.
Fire insurance, flint and food science
In 1797 Thomas Bignold founded the Norwich Union Society, a mutual fire insurer for a city built largely of wood. Norwich Union later became part of Aviva, and financial services remain a big local employer.
Norwich Research Park, south-west of the city, brings together the John Innes Centre, food research institutes and more than 30 science businesses beside the University of East Anglia.
The Norman cathedral and castle dominate the medieval centre, and in 2012 Norwich became England’s first UNESCO City of Literature.
Who Paris speaks to in Norwich
Insurance and finance
Keynotes on risk, change and resilience.
Research park teams
Talks on persistence for long research projects.
UEA and Norwich University of the Arts
Sessions for students and staff.
Food and farming
Resilience for a sector shaped by weather.
Event venues
The Forum, the cathedral precinct and the campus venues host most Norwich conferences and dinners.
- Norwich Cathedral – with its refectory and hostry used for events
- The Forum – a glass-fronted public building, opened in 2001
- Norwich Research Park – conference rooms for the science community
Ways to book Paris in Norwich
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.
Read how The Grit Code turns endurance into a framework for teams. The Grit Code keynote · Keynote speaker Cambridge · Keynote speaker London
Booking for Norwich
Available for in-person events in Norwich, 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.
Norwich’s economy and who the talk is for
Norwich has a population of about 195,971 (2016 figure, Wikidata), which makes it a substantial market for conferences, leadership events and company gatherings.
Students, graduates and faculty
Higher education is part of Norwich’s talent pipeline, with institutions such as Norwich University of the Arts. Paris’s talks for students and graduates focus on grit as a skill that can be learned, using his own expeditions as evidence.
Typical formats include welcome weeks, graduation events, entrepreneurship programmes and alumni dinners. University keynote speaker →
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 Norwich 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 Norwich
In Norwich, the most common bookings fall into a few groups:
- 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.
- Past speaking clients include Nokia, DHL, Kraft Heinz, IHG, Dubai Airports, Expo 2020, COP28 and the UN Tourism General Assembly.
- In 2023 he rowed 4,800 km across the Pacific with three teammates, raising more than £150,000 for marine conservation.
Questions from Norwich organisers
Can I book Paris Norriss as a keynote speaker in Norwich?
Yes. Organisers in Norwich can book him in person or for a virtual session.
Does Paris speak to insurance and financial services teams?
Yes. He talks about risk, uncertainty and staying steady through change.
Can Paris speak at a research or science event?
Yes. He adapts the keynote for researchers, with a focus on persistence over long projects.
Does Paris speak at universities in Norwich?
Yes. He speaks to students, graduates and staff, for example at institutions such as Norwich University of the Arts, on grit as a learnable skill.
Is there a workshop option for teams in Norwich?
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 Norwich?
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.
Check a date for Norwich
Send the basics and Paris’s team will reply, or book a call.