Entrepreneurs Forum

Nouse, determination, luck, the ability to spot opportunities, together with a willingness to take risks are just some of the qualities needed to become a successful entrepreneur.

 

Our guest speaker may be quietly spoken, modest and down-to-earth, but he still holds all of the attributes needed to be successful, in spades!

 

Recently ranked number six in this year’s Sunday Times Young Rich List, sandwiched in sixth place between Hollywood stars Daniel Radcliffe and Keira Knightley, we are delighted to welcome Sean O’Connor to speak exclusively to our Nurturing Pool members next month.  

 

Worth an estimated £33m before his 30th birthday, Sean is already running his second business empire, Clean Energy Capital PLC (CEC) a leading provider of exciting investment opportunities to the financial market, in the clean energy and low carbon sector.

 

With just over six years’ business experience, Sean is rapidly progressing into one of the most successful UK entrepreneurs in the green market and was recently awarded the Ernst and Young North and Midlands Cleantech Entrepreneur of the Year.

 

During supper, Sean will explain how he has grasped exciting business investment opportunities both in the property and green markets, starting a property portfolio from scratch with nothing more than a student loan - detailing his journey from the buy-to-let market, to the Sunday Times Young Rich List.

 

Joining Sean for dinner, to introduce and facilitate the evening’s proceedings will be Kari Owers, Chief Executive of the CIPR Outstanding Agency of the Year, O Communications.

 

Learn more about Sean and CEC...

 

After graduating from Northumbria University with a degree in Sports Management, Sean successfully jumped on the bandwagon of the property market boom at the age of 23.  He then proceeded to develop a number of property ventures and build up a personal property portfolio of 40 units worth £5.2m, even in today’s market.

 

After the collapse of Northern Rock, which damped down mortgage lending, Sean spent 12 months researching the next big trend; identifying the fast developing ‘green market’ before launching in February 2007 what is now CEC PLC.

 

Initially funding a small environmental website enabled Sean to learn more about the green market and it became apparent to him that the green sector was fragmented with lots of small business trying to provide isolated solutions. Integration of these technologies into larger and complete solutions was required for the Government and large corporate market. Sean started the process of funding this process with a number of businesses and technologies, in order to create viable projects that were prepared for commercial exploitation funding.

 

Speaking to institutions, high net worth individuals and financial professionals in the UK and overseas, it became apparent to Sean, that there was significant appetite for new opportunities in the green space, because many see low carbon as the next boom sector. However, it is often perceived as high barrier to entry and the limited knowledge available, about this new sector, resulted in the demand for the service that CEC PLC provides.

 

A move into the carbon trading markets and eventually energy is a strategic move for the business. The resultant carbon saved and green sources of power eventually generated from CEC funded projects means that a successful trading business, in related commodities, is integral to building a fully rounded financial business in the low carbon sector.

 

With a proven track record, CEC PLC is already established as an expert in the field of providing investment opportunities in the low carbon sector and has already secured substantial funds for projects in 2010.

 

CEC PLC’s 2009 annualised profits were £1.25m and including the Emissions Trading side of the business, revenues and profits will increase substantially in 2010.

 

This is an emerging talent focus dinner which is included in the Entrepreneurs’ Forum nurturing pool membership benefits.

 

The dinner will commence at 6.45pm, therefore guests are advised to arrive at around 6.30pm

Venue: Boardroom, Hilton Hotel, Bottle Bank, Gateshead
Time: 6.30pm - 9.30pm