Global Entrepreneurship Week Debate

During Global Entrepreneurship Week we asked the question ‘Can entrepreneurs change the world?’ We had an event in London where we asked people like Lord Mandelson, Peter Jones and and Sophi Tranchell just that.

Photos from The Debate

Can Entrepreneurs Change the World?

You can follow how the debate unfolded at the event by checking out The Debate’s twitter feed.

Gordon Brown joins the debate!

The Prime Minster spoke at the Big Debate event in London:

Have your say

Then take part in the Global Entrepreneurship Week forum (an external website)- a taster of which you can see below:

The event: In the current economic climate, can entrepreneurs change the world?

When? Monday 17th November

Where? South Bank, London

What time? 14.45 - 18.00

On 17 November a unique mix of entrepreneurs, social activists, business leaders, young people and Government ministers will kick-start a world-wide debate about the place of enterprise in driving social change and economic prosperity globally.

The Debate - In the current economic climate, can entrepreneurs change the world? - is the UK’s flagship event for Global Entrepreneurship Week.

The event will be chaired by Stuart Rock, award winning business journalist and co-founder of Caspian Publishing

We are delighted that leading politicians and UK entrepreneurs with a global reach will kick-off the debate including:

• Lord Mandelson, Secretary of State for Business Enterprise and Regulatory Reform;
• Peter Jones, business leader, entrepreneur and star of BBC’s Dragons’ Den;
• Richard Lambert, Director General, Confederation of British Industry;
• Tim Smit CBE, founder of the Eden Project;
• James Caan, serial global entrepreneur and star of BBC’s Dragons’ Den;
• Sophi Tranchell, founder of Divine Chocolate.

A senior cabinet minister will deliver the keynote speech.

Delegates will have an opportunity to hear from Sir Richard Branson, founder of the Virgin Group and we will also have viewpoints from young entrepreneurs across the world.



We are delighted to welcome the Prime Minister’s Global Fellows to the debate, a group of 100 exceptional young school and college leavers who have recently returned from six-week placements in the emerging economies of India, Brazil and China. Having returned to the UK, the Fellows are reporting back on their first-hand experiences of the changing global landscape.



The Global Entrepreneurship Week debate is taking place as part of Chain Reaction, the new international initiative to encourage connections, collaboration, and a commitment to action for positive social change, on a global scale.

Booking a ticket to the debate will also allow you access to the full day of events at Chain Reaction (including a conversation with case study representatives on Collaborating for Social Change, a panel debate on Educating for Social Change and a practical workshop on Global Networks for Social Entrepreneurs.)

To book your place through Chain Reaction and to look at what other events are happening during the 2-day Chain Reaction festival (17 - 18 November) check out their website: www.chain-reaction.org

Get in touch

If you have any queries about the Global Entrepreneurship Week debate, you can contact us by emailing: debate@makeyourmark.org.uk