Richard leads Events Apprenticeships on behalf of UKEvents. Following COVID he was approached in 2021 by some industry colleagues to see if he could help revive the failing Event Apprenticeship initiative.

He undertook a quick review, found minimal lack of knowledge around apprenticeships across the industry, ££ millions going unutilised, their importance as a route in, supporting and driving DEI and a way to help fill the enormous talent gap the industry was facing was a no brainer. Using his extensive network he pulled together a working group and got the ball rolling.

Richard performed poorly at school, suffering from Dyslexia and finding out later in life he suffers from ADHD. In 1975 aged 14 he was fortunate to get a job at The Abbey hotel in Malvern – where his future career started – he found a life he loved and could flourish. At 17 he was offered a trainee apprenticeship – fast forward 6-7 jobs, 20 years he founded First Protocol – now First Agency. over the following 15+ years the company grew, delivering events around the World, through offices in London, New York, Los Angeles and Singapore. Richard stepped down from FP in 2013.

Passionate about apprenticeships, Richard believes everybody should have the opportunity to find their passion and fulfil their destiny. – If he followed his career advisors advice at school, – he would have been working in a factory in Worcester making tin cans.

He says –‘Whilst nothing wrong with making tin cans, it wasn’t for me! I knew I could achieve and be successful, I just needed to find the right thing to focus my energy on. Hospitality and Events became that focus, they gave me purpose and opened a world of opportunities’.