Bill Gates to speak at CBI business awards

One of the world’s most successful entrepreneurs, the Chairman of Microsoft, Bill Gates, will deliver the keynote address at this year’s Real Business/CBI Growing Business Awards.

The event, which takes place on Thursday 6 December in the Hilton Hotel, London, will see entrepreneurial talent from throughout the UK recognised and celebrated in addition to those companies which have revealed substantial growth year after year.

Launched in 1999 by Real Business Magazine, there are eight categories in the Awards, including New Product of The Year, International Initiative of the Year, Most Promising Young Company and Entrepreneur of the Year.

Bill Gates has often spoken of his personal involvement in the evolution of start-up businesses, having described his ‘amazement’ at how much his own company has grown since its initial start-up in the mid-70s.

The Microsoft chairman will join Trade Secretary Patricia Hewitt and Digby Jones, Director-General of the CBI, in attending the event, and will be taking to the podium to address the audience.

Mike Bokaie, Chief Executive of the parent group of Real Business, Caspian Publishing, commented: “The presence of the world’s most successful entrepreneur at this event not only demonstrates the stature of the Growing Business Awards but it will do wonders for the promotion of the spirit of entrepreneurism in the UK.” (CL)