Steve Pateman

From the back streets of Earls Barton to the global success of Kinky Boots, Steve Pateman has one of the most extraordinary business stories to come out of British manufacturing.

Steve joined his family’s shoe factory, W J Brookes, straight from school at 17, learning the trade from his father before eventually taking over the business himself. Faced with the decline of the traditional shoe industry, Steve was forced to think differently — a decision that unexpectedly led him into the niche world of producing fetish and kinky boots for the transgender and transvestite community.

What followed was an incredible journey of reinvention, resilience and challenging perceptions, as Steve found himself thrust into the spotlight through the acclaimed BBC2 documentary The Kinky Boot Factory. The story later inspired the hit film Kinky Boots and the award-winning Broadway and West End musical seen by millions worldwide.

Warm, funny and refreshingly honest, Steve shares the remarkable true story behind the phenomenon, from shaving his legs and learning to walk in six-inch stilettos, to saving a traditional family business by embracing change, diversity and completely new ways of thinking.

To book Keynote Speaker Steve Pateman , contact The Speakers Agency on +44(0)1332 810481 or email enquiries@thespeakersagency.com