A leading businessman is to speak at a free event open to all businesses in Dorset. STRIDE Dorset has booked John Acton for its two-hour Innovation Exchange on Thursday 5th December.

John has 30 years’ experience working in senior leadership roles within global organisations. While MD of the DPD Group he was instrumental in driving five consecutive years of triple market growth in its international business, taking it from a £4bn group to a £9bn group.

Among other achievements John helped set up ‘peer2peer global’ to support business leaders. He will be talking at the event to be held in conjunction with Dorset Council at the BattleLab in Wool near Dorchester. He will take questions and the event will also provide networking and pitching opportunities.

Jessica Dennis, who is running the STRIDE Dorset programme, said:

“John’s experience and ability to communicate are of great value. He has worked with hundreds of businesses, from large corporations to SMEs and start-ups, and understands the problems and issues that businesspeople face. Securing him to speak at our Information Exchange event is a real coup and all businesses are invited."

“STRIDE Dorset is based on a similar programme in Cornwall that has helped many innovative businesses get products and services to market. Our programme is deliberately intensive and runs only to February, and the Innovation Exchange is one of a number of opportunities we offer to business.”

John said:

“My talk will cover 12 simple steps to build a great business. Following a successful corporate career I set up my own leadership and development business. Since 2012 we’ve guided hundreds of leaders to build better businesses whilst getting that work-life blend right."

“I am looking forward to speaking to Dorset business leaders, taking questions and sharing what I have learned to help others.”