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James Pearce
James Pearce, a former award-winning BBC Correspondent, is now a leading global communications trainer. With clients ranging from business leaders to England’s football teams, he helps people communicate effectively. Founder of his training agency in 2013, he teaches media skills, negotiation tactics, and sales messaging. His engaging, interactive talks leave audiences with practical strategies and confidence.
About James Pearce
James Pearce is a former award-winning BBC Correspondent, who has spent the past decade building a reputation as one of the world’s leading communications trainers.
His clients range from global business leaders, to the doctors and nurses of NHS England, to Harry Kane and the England football teams.
During his 20 years as a BBC Correspondent, James held a variety of roles, latterly as the BBC’s Olympics Correspondent for London 2012. He led the BBC’s News coverage from the start of the London bid back in 2001 all the way through to the Games in 2012.
James has interviewed 5 Prime Ministers, but also many thousands of people who are much less experienced at communicating than world leaders. It was a regular frustration for James that when he put a guest in front of a camera and gave them some time in the media spotlight, they routinely failed to take full advantage of the platform that was being offered to them.
This is why James set up his communications training agency in 2013. He has made it his mission to help as many people as possible to communicate more effectively. Preparing spokespeople for media interviews is only part of his work. The reality is that we are all communicators, and nearly all of us have room for improvement. We all know people who try to make an important point at the internal staff meeting, but are so long-winded that they fail to land their message. You might be preparing for a quick sixty seconds chat with your boss in which you really need to make a positive impression. Or perhaps the focus is on the crucial meeting with a client at the end of a long day, and keeping them engaged is key. We all have important communications during every working day.
It’s simple. A company does business more efficiently if its staff can communicate more effectively.
When we are communicating a positive message, we are selling. ‘Sell’ is a word that you will hear James use regularly. He’s helping to turn you into a better salesperson for your message. However, James’ conference talk does not just focus on these verbal sales techniques, he also teaches an easy-to-remember template on how to negotiate challenging conversations. What do we say when something has going wrong, or when a client is unhappy? There are simple rules that, when followed, can save reputations, contracts, and key relationships.
James’s conference session is very interactive. He will tailor it to your company or industry. There is even the opportunity for members of the audience to come on stage and test their ability to handle those tough questions (only after they have been taught how to do so!).
James has an energetic and engaging delivery. It’s a session that will leave you with new ideas about the secrets of effective communications, and quite possibly a smile on your face.
To book Keynote Speaker James Pearce, contact The Speakers Agency on +44(0)1332 810481 or email enquiries@thespeakersagency.com
The Sports Commentary Booth provides a novel and unique way to keep people entertained during your conference, exhibition or other major event? It is a fun and perfect solution.
Many people have wondered what it must be like to be a sports commentator and others have secretly wanted to be one. Well there chance is here are The Commentary Booth offers you and your clients the chance to demonstrate their skills as the next John Motson or Peter Alliss. You choose the sport and The Commentary Booth provides the TV footage. Maybe you would like to describe the winning goal from the 1966 World Cup Final, Andy Murray’s final shot in his Wimbledon Final victory, or Jean Van de Velde’s infamous difficulties in the burn at Carnoustie during the Open.
The portable commentary booth is brought to you and you’ll be greeted by a well-known TV commentator*. You’ll be given some valuable tips by the expert before it’s time to have a go yourself. Take a deep breath and then add your own individual touch to some memorable sporting moments.
Afterwards each person will be given a weblink so they can go home and show family and friends. All videos are password protected so nobody needs to worry as no one else will be able to see it unless they choose to share their magic moment!
The main aim of The Sports Commentary Booth is for everybody to have fun but as this is sport The Commentary Booth likes to add a competitive edge to proceedings. A ‘golden microphone’ trophy is presented to the person judged to have delivered the best commentary during the day or evening.
And if you think your guests or clients need a drink before their brave enough to have a go The Commentary Booth offers an after dinner version which brings the house down. The expert commentator* takes to the stage in front of the audience, gives a very brief demonstration and then it’s competition time. There’s no hiding place. This is either hilarious acclamation or humiliation. The TV footage will appear on a large screen and the audience gets to judge those who have put themselves forward as commentators. The best two will return to the stage for a final showdown and they should be warned to expect the unexpected!
The booth can be branded and you will have a choice of commentators.
In a nutshell the Quiz is three rounds of 12 questions during dinner. The first round commences after the starter, the second one after the main and the third after the dessert. The topics such as sport, comedy, music and so forth are chosen by the booker.
Each table or team has a keypad and the questions are multiple choice. They are asked to press either A,B,C or D for each question. Some of the questions in each round will be video questions on a big screen.
The electronic scoring which appears on the big screen is instant. If scores are tied the computer separates the teams by which one has the quickest average response time for questions.
The winning table or team from each of the three rounds progresses to the final. (Scores are re-set after each round, so a table or team can finish last in round one but will reach the final if they win round two – this keeps all teams interested right up to the end).
The final take place on stage. All three tables or teams, or at least one member of each table or team, comes forward to the stage. We have large electronic buzzers which look like the ones on a TV show.
The final is a quick fire round of 30 questions. The team who answers the most questions correctly wins the quiz.
The quiz is hosted by BBC Sports Presenter James Pearce* who created this concept.
*If you wish to book someone else to host the Quiz we are happy to make alternative suggestions which will be dependent on your available budget.
Testimonials
"James Pearce delivered a brilliant after dinner speech that gave our conference audience a fascinating insight into the world of the sports correspondent. A funny and fast paced session that revealed the pressures, near misses and occasional catastrophes that can go on behind the scenes when sport is reported on our TV screens. You‘ll never look at a sports reporter in the same way again! Great entertainment, and not just for the sports fan."
CIPFA Audit Conference
"James was an excellent host for our 2014 Industry Conference in Tenerife, where over 400 delegates enjoyed his personal charm and attention to detail and some great stories, that made the whole event run smoothly and on time. He really went the extra mile with our delegates and spent a lot of time talking and mixing with everyone outside of the main conference hall, which really added to making the whole event more friendly and the most memorable conference ever. Thanks James!"
National Merchant Buying Society Ltd
"James played a key role as host for three experiential evenings at our International Sales Meeting in London for an audience of 400 guests from Asia Pacific, EMEA and the Americas. James’ role involved introducing and directing the overall flow for the three evenings and leading interviews as part of main stage content. James is a highly skilled communicator and a joy to have as part of our team in delivering a great sales meeting."
New Balance
"James Pearce was an excellent host at the ukactive Summit. The health, sport and physical activity sector’s set piece political event of the year. He challenged our speakers, engaged our delegates and brought his own passion to the event, which led to it being a great success. We look forward to working with James in the future."
UK Active
"I attend numerous conferences, and James Pearce's talk on communications is the single standout speech from all that I have ever seen. It's not often that you leave a conference with your mind opened up to a whole new way of thinking. This is going to improve the way that I communicate with clients and colleagues, and I am so excited to be able to put some of these ideas into practice."
Louis Howarth, Howarth Timber and Building Supplies
