James is the founder and CEO of Hamilton Bradshaw, based in Mayfair, London. The company was founded in 2004 and specialises in buyouts, venture capital, turnarounds, and real estate investment in the UK. James knew from a young age that he wanted to run his own business. His father was... Read more
James is the founder and CEO of Hamilton Bradshaw, based in Mayfair, London. The company was founded in 2004 and specialises in buyouts, venture capital, turnarounds, and real estate investment in the UK.
James knew from a young age that he wanted to run his own business. His father was probably his biggest influence, owning a successful leather goods manufacturing business which he hoped James would one day take over. He wasn’t born with a silver spoon in his mouth and didn’t have a private education. When he left school and went out on his own at 16, he had no money in his pocket. What he did have was a great degree of ambition coupled with self-belief, a strong desire to achieve and a powerful work-ethic; something he believes is imperative in any pursuit of success.
One of the first interviews James got was for a job interviewing for a recruitment agency. He got it, and the position paid 30 pounds per week. Effectively, it involved cold-calling firms, ascertaining whether they had a vacancy, advertising that vacancy and then interviewing candidates to find the most suitable applicant. The more people he placed, the more money he earned. For James, this got his adrenaline going. After four years, he realised it was something he had a great deal of passion for. He decided to start his own recruitment business, and Alexander Mann was born.
The agency’s prestigious Pall Mall location set the tone for the business that James would sell in 2002 for £95m. James then graduated from the Advanced Management Program at Harvard Business School in 2003, before starting recruitment investment firm, Hamilton Bradshaw. Now an industry leader, HB’s portfolio turns over in excess of £500m.
In 2007 James joined the panel of Dragons’ Den, a hit BBC1 show where entrepreneurs pitch their ideas and hope to gain an investment. In his time on the show he made several high-profile investments including one that ended up being one of the most successful-ever pitches in the Den.
More recently, Sky News launched ‘The Pledge’, a weekly discussion programme staring James and a pool of nine other high-profile panellists. Each week five members of the team would appear on the show armed with an issue that they were passionate about. James debated everything from Trump to Brexit.
In May 2012, James was approached by the Government to become chairman of the Start Up Loans initiative; a scheme that would provide funding and support to small businesses in the UK. Originally the goal of the scheme was to help 1000 business obtain government and private sector investments to fund new ventures, however the scheme has helped provide funding and mentorship to more than 50,000 businesses.
As a figurehead in the UK, James was recognised in the 2015 New Year’s Honours list with a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) for services to entrepreneurship and charitable services through the James Caan Foundation; a charity set up to support projects across the world that look at enterprise to provide people with a better future.
As for the future, James believes that the technology space is the one to watch. It is a high risk area for investment but has a high rate of return (if you get it right), so watch this space!
You can book James Caan through London Speaker Bureau by submitting the enquiry form on this page or calling our team. One of our consultants will respond promptly with James's current availability, speaking fees and any specific requirements for your event.
James Caan's speaking fees depend on the event format (in-person or virtual), the location, the length of the engagement and the level of customisation required. Please contact London Speaker Bureau for an up-to-date fee quote for James tailored to your event.
James Caan speaks on a range of business, leadership and industry subjects. Talks can be shaped around your audience, industry and strategic objectives - share your event brief with London Speaker Bureau and we will work with James to align the content with your delegates and goals.
London Speaker Bureau can book James Caan for events worldwide, subject to James's schedule. Please send us your event date, location and format and we will confirm availability and handle travel and logistics on your behalf.
Virtual and hybrid keynotes are now a standard part of the speaking industry. Please contact London Speaker Bureau to confirm whether James Caan is available to deliver a virtual session for your event and on which platform (Zoom, Microsoft Teams, a bespoke studio or your own).
Most keynote speeches run between 45 and 60 minutes, often followed by a 15-30 minute Q&A. Other formats - shorter conference slots, panel appearances or longer workshop sessions - may also be possible. Share your agenda with London Speaker Bureau and we will confirm what James can accommodate.
London Speaker Bureau will brief James Caan on your audience profile, sector and objectives so the keynote can be shaped around your event. The level of customisation possible depends on the speaker and the lead time - contact us with your brief and we will confirm what James can offer.
James Caan delivers keynotes in English. If you require simultaneous interpretation or a multilingual format, please mention this in your enquiry and London Speaker Bureau will arrange it for you.
James Caan's areas of expertise include a range of business, leadership and industry subjects. To get a clear sense of James's style, credentials and how they engage an audience, please review the biography, popular talks and any videos or testimonials shown on this page, or request a detailed speaker brief from London Speaker Bureau.
James Caan can be booked through London Speaker Bureau for corporate conferences, leadership events, internal team meetings, association gatherings and private client engagements where expertise in a range of business, leadership and industry subjects is relevant. Details of James's background and previous engagements are included in the biography above; contact us if you would like a more detailed list of past clients or case studies.
Beyond keynote speeches, many of the speakers on our roster also take part in workshops, executive masterclasses, panel discussions and fireside chats. Contact London Speaker Bureau with your preferred format and we will confirm what James Caan is able to offer alongside or instead of a keynote.
We generally recommend enquiring at least three to twelve months in advance to secure your preferred date with James Caan, particularly during peak conference seasons. Where possible we also accommodate shorter lead times - please contact London Speaker Bureau to check James's current availability for your dates.