Brad Burton

Brad Burton

Portrait photo of Brad Burton in front of Brad Burton logo
Born James Bradley Harold Burton
(1973-02-06) 6 February 1973
Salford, England
Nationality British
Occupation Entrepreneur, author, motivational speaker
Notable credit(s) BBC Breakfast
BBC World News
BBC News

Brad Burton (born 6 February 1973) is an English entrepreneur, the founder and managing director of the international business networking group 4Networking.[1][2][3] He is the author of three business books [3][4][5] and is hired as a motivational speaker.

Early life

Burton was born James Bradley Harold Burton in Salford.[6] and stayed in this area throughout his childhood and school years.[5]

Career

After leaving school Burton entered the computer games industry, leading to him becoming a commentator on Channel 4’s computer games show, Gamesmaster.

In 2004, with £25,060 of personal debt,[7] Burton started a marketing business in London, financing the company by delivering pizzas.[4][8]

In 2006, Burton shut down his marketing business and set up 4Networking in Taunton, Somerset,[4][5] a company which provides joined-up networking to businesses in the UK.[2][5] He was also made heavy use of social networking to develop his business.[1] By 2010 4Networking had a reported annual turnover of up to £1.7million.[4] In April 2012 4Networking was reported to have 280 networking groups and 40,000 members across the UK.[5][9] In 2014 the company maintains 334 networking groups and 50,000 members across the UK as well as groups in Australia. Burton is also Managing Editor of 4Networking’s business networking magazine 4Community.

In 2009, Burton published his first business book, Get Off Your Arse,[4] setting up 4Publishing in the process. This was followed by Get Off Your Arse Too in 2011,[3][5] also published by 4Publishing. A third book, Life. Business. Just Got Easier. was published in 2013 by Capstone, a John Wiley & Sons brand. All three books have received favourable reviews.[10]

Burton has written the foreword to Business Networking For Dummies by Stefan Thomas, former Network Director of 4Networking. This book contains a number of references to 4Networking and to Burton's role as founder.[11]

Burton gives talks as a motivational speaker across the UK.[12][13][14] Burton is a regular keynote speaker at The Business Networking Show and at The Business StartUp Show.

Brad Burton speaking at The Business Networking Show

As a public figure, Burton's Facebook page has achieved Verified Page status.

On Feb 16 2016, ten years to the day since he started the company, Burton stood down as managing director of 4Networking, taking on the title of Founder. Burton is interviewed on 4NTV about his decision to stand down and to hand over the role of MD to Jason Dutton.[15] Burton also talks about his decision on this 4NTV video 4NTV. A one-page infographic charts the 10-year business journey between 2006 and 2016 of 4Networking 4Networking infographic.

Media

Burton is frequently interviewed about business and entrepreneurship, with appearances on Working Lunch on BBC2, The Jeremy Vine Show on BBC Radio 2, and features in national newspapers The Times [1][2][4][5] and The Guardian,[3] business magazines,[16] business websites and local newspapers.[17] He has also created several motivational videos and podcasts for entrepreneurial and business websites. Burton is listed in the Richtopia list of the top 100 most influential British entrepreneurs. [18]

Media appearances in 2015 include being a key backer in the TV series Money Pit on Dave, hosted by Jason Manford.[19] Burton's prominent appearances on the show have generated media comment, including a reference in the Daily Telegraph to Burton as one of the stars of the show.[20] Burton is also the regular anchor presenter on 4NTV, a business magazine show. Burton is interviewed on Fortune Hunter TV about the value of being different in business.[21]

Burton is an Ambassador for Visit Somerset, promoting Somerset as a destination for travel and business. [22] Burton advocates for the work of wildlife charity Lion Aid.[23]

Personal life

Burton lives in Taunton, Somerset with his wife Kerry and their two sons and one daughter.[4]

Bibliography

See also

Business networking

References

  1. 1 2 3 Frary, Mark (23 June 2009). "The IT guy rides to the rescue". The Times. Retrieved 8 August 2012.
  2. 1 2 3 Frary, Mark (24 July 2012). "Contacts are key to the door of opportunity". The Times. Retrieved 8 August 2012.
  3. 1 2 3 4 Tims, Anna (22 June 2012). "The secret to surviving a recession". The Guardian. Retrieved 8 August 2012.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Shannon, Laura (13 November 2010). "How do I turn my cash around?". The Times. Retrieved 8 August 2012.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Copps, Alan (3 April 2012). "Pressure is just not the British way". The Times. Retrieved 8 August 2012.
  6. ↑ "Brad Burton birth record". www.ancestry.co.uk. Retrieved 8 August 2012.
  7. ↑ Matt Thomas; Shaa Wasmund (29 November 2010). The Smarta Way To Do Business: By entrepreneurs, for entrepreneurs; Your ultimate guide to starting a business. John Wiley & Sons. pp. 306–. ISBN 978-0-85708-110-0.
  8. ↑ Dan Matthews (17 May 2013). 150 Ultimate Business Secrets: From beer and chocolate to lingerie - exclusive tips for success from Britain's elite entrepreneurs. Harriman House Limited. pp. 155–. ISBN 978-0-85719-322-3.
  9. ↑ Marie-Claire Carlyle (1 October 2012). Money Magnet Mindset: Tools to Keep You and Your Money on Track. Hay House, Inc. pp. 235–. ISBN 978-1-84850-916-0.
  10. ↑ Turner, Sarah. "Get Off Your A*** by Brad Burton – A review". http://www.turnerink.co.uk/. Retrieved 8 August 2012. External link in |work= (help)
  11. ↑ Stefan Thomas (17 March 2014). Business Networking For Dummies. John Wiley & Sons. pp. 54–. ISBN 978-1118833353.
  12. ↑ "Business: JCB supports digger drivers looking to start their own companies". The Sentinel April 02, 2014
  13. ↑ "Startup Diaries: Social Media or Bust". The Next Woman, 29 January 2015 by Lorraine White
  14. ↑ "Business networking event creates buzz at Windsor Racecourse". Maidenhead Advertiser, 02 July 2013 Written by Lucy Golding
  15. ↑ Burton, Brad (host) (10 Feb 2016). "Episode 6". 4NTV. Season 1. Episode 6. 4NTV.
  16. ↑ "Brad Burton interview". Business Matters Magazine. Retrieved 27 July 2012.
  17. ↑ "Five-minutes with 4Networking’s MD Brad Burton". Weston & North Somerset Echo. 10 December 2011. Retrieved 27 July 2012.
  18. ↑ Derin Cag (12 March 2016). "British Entrepreneurs Top 100". Richtopia. Richtopia Ltd. Retrieved 18 April 2016. The 100 most influential British entrepreneurs: number 51 Brad Burton
  19. ↑ Manford, Jason (host) (29 October 2015). "Episode 1". Money Pit. Season 1. Episode 1. Dave.
  20. ↑ "Brad Burton interview". Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 30 October 2015.
  21. ↑ Wood, Lyndon (host) (1 July 2015). "Episode 3". Fortune Hunter TV. Season 1. Episode 3. Sky Showcase.
  22. ↑ "Visit Somerset announcement". Visit Somerset. Visit Somerset. 8 April 2016. Retrieved 14 April 2016. Local entrepreneur Brad Burton is joining Visit Somerset as a Ambassador to help promote the county as a destination for travel and business.
  23. ↑ Morris, Thom (28 July 2010). "Businessman shot by paintballers to draw attention to lion charity". Kent Messenger. Retrieved 7 August 2012.

External links

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