Derry well deserved

There were tears of joy from Derry Green as the he received a standing ovation after being announced ‘Lancashire Business View Business Personality of the Year’.

Derry was emotional taking to the stage to receive the honour at the magazine’s Lancashire Business Day celebration, which was a sell-out event at Burnley FC’s Turf Moor.

Presenting the award, Richard Slater, chairman of Lancashire Business View, told the audience the Dragons’ Den star and Secret Garden Glamping founder carried ‘the spirit of Lancashire business and someone who reminded us there are amazing things in the county.’

Shell-shocked Derry, speaking afterwards, said:  “I thought Richard had said the wrong name and then I saw the picture on the screen and it was me. It was mad and doesn’t feel real.

“I have not cried in a long time. One of the last times I cried was on Dragon’s Den this felt like that.

“It was not about the investment, it was the affirmation that other business leaders saw what I was doing was validated.

“It felt like the same today and doing in front of 129 people and getting a standing ovation was amazing.”

The audience heard Derry’s incredible business journey starting in lockdown when his transport collapsed overnight.

He decided to build a glamping pod in his back garden in Skelmersdale and turned into an overnight social media sensation being booked up for two and a half years on AirBnB.

Dave Walker, managing director of +24, who sponsored the event, was full of praise for Derry.

He said: “What a fantastic moment for Derry he is a genuinely nice bloke. It goes to show you don’t have to be a Dragon to succeed in business.

Dave added: “There was a great atmosphere in the room with lots of fun and giggles with fantastic businesses to celebrate the great county of Lancashire.

“One of the speakers mentioned we have a fast-growing economy and is bucking the trend from the rest of the UK.

“There is so much happening that we are not even aware of and I cannot wait for next year when we hear about someone else who is up and coming.

“We heard some fantastic young speakers, the next generation who are challenging the norm.”

Lancashire Business Day began with Great Harwood town crier Rawden Kerr welcoming guests with the Lancashire proclamation.

David Dunwell, chief executive of Lancashire Mind, talked about the impact businesses can have on the charity and also how they can also help Lancashire businesses.

Maria Moriarty-Eames, head of partnerships at Marketing Lancashire, shared a first-look at a new video ‘This is Lancashire’ highlighting what is great about the county.

Lancashire Business View’s Sub36 shines the spotlight on young professionals leading the way in business across the county.

Lucas Thornley from Cortus Advisory, Ellie Smith from Anthem Engagement and Khadija Patel from Pierce gave an insight into making strides in the business world.

Jenny Rutter, from British Textile Biennial; Elizabeth Porter, from Brysdales; Pauline Wild, from Forbes and Derry Green took part in the ‘Leaders’ panel talking about their journeys in business.

The event was sponsored by +24 while Beever and Struthers part of Menzies LLP, East Lancashire Learning Group (ELLG), Smokefree Lancashire and Vital Synergy were patrons.

The event was supported by Vantage Motor Group and charity partner Lancashire Mind.

Held every year since 2017, Lancashire Business Day coincides with Lancashire Day, which celebrates the day in November when the county first sent representatives to Parliament, more than 700 years ago.