James Pearce Profile Picture

Keynote SpeakerJames Pearce

Former Award-Winning BBC Correspondent

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... Read more

Biography

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.

"James Pearce was a leading figure in the BBC’s coverage in the lead up to, and during, the London 2012 Games – and his work is a major reason why the BBC enjoyed such tremendous success. His work reflected toughness and tenacity, but never at the expense of accuracy or fairness. He understood that the journalistic aim of ‘getting it first’ should never undermine the larger aim of ‘getting it right.’ And on many occasions, through his talent and professionalism, James achieved both. His reporting reflected the proudest traditions of British journalism, and it was a pleasure working with him." Lord Sebastian Coe, Chairman of LOCOG
"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.” Tim Crowley, Chairman

Popular Talks by James Pearce

  • Presenting and Moderating
  • Media Training
  • Effective Communication
  • Event Hosting