Grit keynotes inside York’s walls
York has been a Roman fortress, a Viking capital and a chocolate city. Paris brings The Grit Code to its businesses, campus and conference venues.
Roman, Viking, railway
York was founded as Eboracum in AD 71. Its Minster, castle and city walls are all Grade I listed, and the Jorvik Viking Centre tells the story of the city the Vikings took in 866.
Rowntree’s grew here from 1862; Nestlé still makes KitKat in York. Aviva, Network Rail and the University of York are among the large employers.
The National Railway Museum holds the largest collection of railway locomotives in the world.
Who Paris speaks to in York
Insurance and finance
Keynotes for leadership teams.
Rail operators
Resilience for network and operations staff.
University of York
Talks for students and researchers.
Confectionery
Sessions for manufacturing teams.
Where York meets
York Racecourse, the Barbican and the city’s historic halls host conferences, dinners and award nights.
- York Racecourse – on the Knavesmire, home of the Ebor Festival
- York Barbican – the venue for the UK Snooker Championship
- Merchant Adventurers’ Hall – a medieval guildhall
Keynote, workshop or virtual
Most York organisers book the 45–60 minute Grit Code keynote. Teams that want depth add a Grit Deconstruction workshop of 90 minutes to half a day, remote audiences get a 30–45 minute virtual version, and Paris can also host and moderate full-day events. Compare formats →
Endurance you can measure
A marathon on every continent
7 marathons on 7 continents in 5 days, 21 hours and 51 minutes, from Antarctica to Miami via Cape Town, Perth, Dubai, Madrid and Fortaleza.
4,800 km of open ocean
The 2023 Pacific row, which raised more than £150,000 for marine conservation.
Read the story behind 7 marathons on 7 continents. The Grit Code keynote · Keynote speaker Leeds · Keynote speaker Hull
How a booking works
Available for in-person events in York, 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.
York’s economy and who the talk is for
York has a population of about 208,400 (2016 figure, Wikidata), which makes it a substantial market for conferences, leadership events and company gatherings.
Businesses with their headquarters in York include Persimmon plc (house-building).
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 York 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 York
Organisers in York usually book Paris for one of these occasions:
- 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
- His TV shows have been distributed in 123 countries, and Guy in Dubai has 22 million views.
- He ran 7 marathons on 7 continents in 5 days, 21 hours and 51 minutes.
- 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.
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 York?
Yes. Paris takes York bookings for keynotes, workshops and hosting, live or virtual.
Can Paris speak at a dinner in a historic York venue?
Yes. He gives after-dinner talks as well as conference keynotes.
Does Paris speak to insurance and finance teams?
Yes. He tailors the talk to risk, change and resilience.
Is there a workshop option for teams in York?
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 York?
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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