Resilience talks for Preston’s engineers
Preston became England’s 50th city in 2002 and is a centre of the UK’s military aerospace industry. Paris brings The Grit Code to its teams.
A guild city built on engineering
Preston’s Guild Merchant charter dates from 1179, and the Preston Guild is still celebrated once every 20 years, most recently in 2012.
BAE Systems has its Military Aircraft headquarters here, with sites at Warton and Samlesbury on either side of the city. Higher education and defence are now the big employers.
The University of Central Lancashire is in the city, and the bus station, once on the World Monuments Fund’s at-risk list, is now Grade II listed.
Who Paris speaks to in Preston
Aerospace and defence
Keynotes on performing under pressure for engineering teams.
UCLan staff and students
Talks on persistence for a big campus.
Nuclear and energy
Sessions on safety, focus and long projects.
Lancashire councils
Resilience for frontline services.
Event venues
Preston’s Guild Hall, Deepdale’s suites and hotels near the M6 host most of the city’s awards nights and company days.
- Preston Guild Hall – opened in 1973, with a 2,034-seat Grand Hall and the 780-seat Charter Theatre
- Deepdale – home of Preston North End since 1878, one of the oldest football stadiums still in use
- The Harris – a Grade I listed museum and art gallery facing the Flag Market
Ways to book Paris in Preston
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.
See how the keynote is built from 7 marathons and an ocean row. The Grit Code keynote · Keynote speaker Manchester · Keynote speaker Liverpool
Booking for Preston
Available for in-person events in Preston, 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.
Preston’s economy and who the talk is for
Preston has a population of about 115,000 (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 Preston 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 Preston
In Preston, 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
- He is the CEO of Blazing Sand Studios, an AI video production company.
- His TV shows have been distributed in 123 countries, and Guy in Dubai has 22 million views.
- 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.
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 Preston organisers
Can I book Paris Norriss as a keynote speaker in Preston?
Yes. Organisers in Preston can book him in person or for a virtual session.
Does Paris speak to aerospace and defence engineers?
Yes. He talks about pressure, fatigue and decision-making when the stakes are high, tailored on a briefing call.
Could Paris speak at a Preston Guild event or civic celebration?
Yes. He gives keynotes and can also host a civic or awards evening.
Is there a workshop option for teams in Preston?
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 Preston?
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 Preston
Send the basics and Paris’s team will reply, or book a call.