Grit keynotes for Hampshire’s county town
Winchester was a Roman tribal capital and a seat of Wessex kings, and it is where Jane Austen is buried. Paris brings The Grit Code to its organisations.
Venta Belgarum, the Great Hall, the cathedral
As Venta Belgarum, Winchester was the capital of the Belgae and one of the largest towns in Roman Britain. King Cenwalh of Wessex built the Old Minster in 648.
The 12th-century Great Hall of Winchester Castle holds the Round Table linked to Arthurian legend. Jane Austen died in the city in 1817 and is buried in the cathedral.
Winchester is the county town of Hampshire and holds the head offices of Hampshire County Council. Winchester College is the oldest public school still using its original buildings, and the University of Winchester grew from King Alfred’s College.
Who Paris speaks to in Winchester
Hampshire County Council
Resilience for public servants.
Schools and colleges
The Grit Generation for students.
University of Winchester
Talks for students and staff.
Hampshire businesses
Kick-offs and offsites.
Event venues
Winchester’s conferences and dinners are usually held in the Great Hall, at the university and in country hotels nearby.
- The Great Hall – the surviving hall of Winchester Castle
- Winchester Cathedral – the longest medieval cathedral in the world
- University of Winchester – conference spaces on campus
Ways to book Paris in Winchester
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 the story behind The Grit Code. The Grit Code keynote · Keynote speaker Southampton · Keynote speaker Portsmouth
Booking for Winchester
Available for in-person events in Winchester, 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.
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 Winchester 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 Winchester
In Winchester, the most common bookings fall into a few groups:
- 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
- He ran 7 marathons on 7 continents in 5 days, 21 hours and 51 minutes.
- 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.
- 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.
Questions from Winchester organisers
Can I book Paris Norriss as a keynote speaker in Winchester?
Yes. Organisers in Winchester can book him in person or for a virtual session.
Does Paris speak to councils and public services?
Yes. He tailors the talk to pressure, change and long-term goals.
Does Paris speak at schools in Winchester?
Yes. The Grit Generation is designed for students.
Is there a workshop option for teams in Winchester?
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 Winchester?
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 Winchester
Send the basics and Paris’s team will reply, or book a call.