Gorman sets up networking base in London

SERIAL entrepreneur Chris Gorman will this week launch a London-based version of Scotland's successful business network, the Entrepreneurial Exchange.

The new group, called the London Entrepreneurial Exchange, has recruited some of the UK's top flight entrepreneurs to its board, including Dragons' Den star Duncan Bannatyne and Kanya King, founder and chief executive of music awards business, the Mobo Organisation.

Sir Richard Branson has agreed to be the group's honorary president.

The network will host an inaugural event on Tuesday in London for 160 potential members.

Like its Scottish counterpart, the group will be a not-for-profit networking club that runs speaker events, awards and mentorship programmes for ambitious entrepreneurs.

Other members of the board include Pizza Express founder Luke Johnson and lastminute.com tycoon Brent Hoberman.

Gorman, the London Entrepreneurial Exchange chairman, said: "I've managed to pull together such a great board because we all believe that it is something that London entrepreneurs will benefit from."

Gorman, who finished his term on the board of the Scottish Entrepreneurial Exchange, said the organisation had played "an important part of my business success having access to some incredible business people.

"There are a lot of entrepreneurial organisations in London, but they are all trying to make profit out of entrepreneurs or events.

"This will be the same as in Scotland, which is for entrepreneurs and by entrepreneurs, and not for profit.

"There is nothing like it in London."

John Anderson, chief executive of the Entrepreneurial Exchange, said plans for the new group have been in process for a year.

"We never wanted to follow the temptation to franchise or license what we have. A lot of people have tried it and they haven't worked."

He added the London group will also provide a "conduit" for Scottish business people to trade in London.

The Entrepreneurial Exchange was formed 15 years ago and has feted Scottish business leaders such as Sir Tom Farmer, and Sir Arnold Clark.

The London launch event will be at Quintessentially Soho, the charitable private members club.