Stephen Fear

Dr Stephen R. Fear
The Phonebox Millionaire™
Born (1953-08-27) 27 August 1953
Bristol, England
Nationality British
Occupation Entrepreneur, Businessman, Chairman of Fear Group, British Library Ambassador and Entrepreneur in Residence at the British Library 2012-2016.

Stephen Fear (born 27 August 1953) is an English Entrepreneur and Businessman with an established property empire and business interests in industries including green technology, I.T., care homes, hotels and manufacturing.

Fear is also notable for being Entrepreneur in Residence at the British Library,[1] from 2012 - 2016, a position formerly held by the late Dame Anita Roddick and remains an official Ambassador, he is also recognised for receiving a Doctorate in Business Administration (DBA) from the University of West England on 24 July 2013. In October 2014 Fear was made a patron of the charity for the homeless, Emmaus, a role he relinquished on 25th April 2016 due to extensive commitments elsewhere. Recently, Fear received a lifetime achievement award presented by The Bristol Post and also is a member of the Bristol Commission on Education and Skills.

Early life

Fear was born in Bristol and brought up on a Council Estate in a suburb of the city. He was the youngest of four children, having three older half-sisters. He attended Henbury School in Bristol for the first six weeks of his education; however, his formal education only lasted for a total of approximately three years including attending school in Malmesbury for about a year from age twelve. Fear is essentially self-educated through his lifelong love of reading which is one of the reasons he supports the British Library and the general retention and expansion of libraries throughout both the UK and the developing world. Fear is passionate about an intercontinental library system being created throughout Africa where access to books is currently limited.

Fear started in business at the age of 15, having left school,[2] by creating a company called Easy Clean, which specialised in commercial oven cleaning.

Showing very early entrepreneurial skills, Fear bought a cleaning formula from an American company advertising in the Exchange & Mart, originally intended for domestic use and adapted the product himself in a lock-up garage and later selling commercial cleaning services to large bakeries.

His first major business deal was achieved over the phone using the now famous Red Telephone Box on the Council Estate in Bristol where he was brought up.[3] leading to the nickname - "The Phonebox Millionaire ™".

Fear later sold this business for £100,000[3] and invested the money in property, which was to be the start of his property empire.

Later with business partner Arne Naess, (the late Norwegian shipping magnet and mountaineer, famous for having led the first Norwegian expedition to Mount Everest in 1985 with British mountaineer Sir Chris Bonington CBE), Fear invested in many businesses in the UK and America; however, the bulk of his career has been spent in the property and corporate sectors focusing on property investment and development as well as company takeovers, mergers and acquisitions, resulting in a multifaceted business empire under the umbrella Fear Group, which he runs with son and business partner Leon Fear.

Capel-le-Ferne

After listening to Margaret Thatcher's interview on ITN News when she insisted that the tunnel would be built, Fear woke up the following morning at 4am and drove to Kent where he set up an office in The Great Danes Hotel and proceeded to try to buy land and property.

Fear bought a caravan park set on 18 acres (7 ha) before adding another 10 acres (4 ha) one year later. He placed advertisements in the Liverpool, Dublin, and other newspapers where there was high unemployment, offering both accommodation and help with finding work on the project.

Together with Arne Naess then husband to Diana Ross, Fear created the first major workers' accommodation for the new Channel Tunnel Project in Capel-le-Ferne, Kent at a time of high unemployment, which housed three hundred unemployed men and their families on a site previously used as a Spitfire airbase during World War II. The airbase had become a caravan park and Fear helped the unemployed find work on the project. Fear and Naess set up and ran an employment help centre on site and assisted men, from the United Kingdom, who had been unemployed for more than three years, in finding work on the building of the new tunnel.


In the media

Fear has been featured by the media of the United Kingdom, including the Financial Times,[4] Sunday Times, The Independent[5] and The Guardian[6] commenting on a range of business, social and political issues. Fear has been profiled in a number of publications including The Daily Express,[3] Bristol Post[7] and Balance magazine, the official in-house magazine for the British Bankers Association. He is also a recognised author and regular contributor to a number of media outlets including Business Matters,[8] The Huffington Post,[9] Is4Profit[10] and London Loves Business.[11] In late 2013, Fear was asked to write a biweekly column for Barclays Bank[12] aimed at helping entrepreneurs, with a particular focus on small and medium size enterprises.

In June 2013, Fear was asked to be a judge at the London Loves Excellence Awards[13] with Tim Campbell, Karren Brady, Charlie Mullins and Chief Executive of International Airlines Group, Willie Walsh. Following this event, Fear was also asked to be a judge at the London Loves Talent Awards in April 2014 [14] where he helped pick out and celebrate companies for whose talent, skills, leadership and workforce development are demonstrated at the heart of their business.

In addition to a quarterly book review series, Fear launched an online blog titled "Fear on Food."[15] Written by Stephen and Leon Fear, the blog provides advice and tips for international business lunches including advice tailored for the business traveler such as mobile phone signal strength, WIFI usage and the ability to charge portable devices.

The British Library

Fear was the official Entrepreneur in Residence at The Business & Intellectual Property Centre at The British Library from 2012 to 2016 and remains an official Ambassador, promoting both the BIPC & The British Library where possible, also regularly contributing to panel debates, Q&A sessions and seminars hosted by the Library. In early 2013, Fear announced his quarterly video book review series. Primarily filmed at the British Library, the series sees Fear select a number of business publications on a particular theme. In February 2013, Fear filmed his first episode, relating to Internet and Marketing, at the British Library. A few months later, he recorded the second episode of the series on International Trade.[16] Fear also writes for the Innovation and Enterprise Blog.[17] Following a lunch with the Queen and HRH the Duke of Edinburgh during the Diamond Jubilee, Fear personally invited Prince Phillip to visit the British Library’s Business and IP Centre where Fear, with other British Library Ambassadors, hosted a private tour on 13 November 2013.[18]

Public Speaking

Fear is often asked to speak at a number of corporate events, exhibitions and dinners and in the past has given talks at the British Library and the Victoria and Albert Museum.[19] In November 2012, Fear spoke at the inaugural talk for Heropreneurs in central London with General Sir David Richards, then head of the British Armed Forces.[20] In 2013, Fear took part in a panel debate as part of Prime’s Enterprise for Over 50s with Esther Rantzen.[21] On 16 October 2013, Fear spoke at Cardiff University as part of its Innovation Network.[22]

On 23 October 2013 Fear was asked to be a judge for the Growing Business Awards where he was sat with Liberal Democrat Politician, Chief Security to the Treasury, Danny Alexander MP and Lord Bilimoria. Sponsored by the Confederation of British Industry and Lloyds Bank, the ceremony was hosted by Real Business Magazine at the Marriott Grosvenor in Grosvenor Square, London. Fear was asked to present the award for Young Entrepreneur of the Year alongside former BBC Chief Political Correspondent and Strictly Come Dancing star, John Sergeant.[23]

Fear spoke in Exeter on 12 December 2013 to business leaders at a briefing by Devon County Council, hosted by Ashfords, about a new resource within Exeter's Central Library that would give businesses access to high quality business and intellectual property information.[24]

On 29 May 2014, Fear, co-hosted a two-hour workshop at the Hay Festival. Aimed at young entrepreneurs, the workshop focused on how to start a business and maintain momentum after launch.[25]

Fear coined the phrase "Covenant of Place" in May 2014 whilst talking to British Investors - a term used to describe a cities performance in the investment market, and how a city is scored by its appeal to investors.

On 8 September 2014 Fear's four-part radio series, "Dr Fear's Business Remedies." aired on Ujima Radio 98FM Bristol.[26] The hour long business show aims to inspire entrepreneurs from all backgrounds and age groups to succeed in business and has a panel of guests that question Fear. Fear now writes a monthly business column for the Bristol Post Newspaper.[27]

In November 2014, Fear gave a seminar at Olympia London as part of the 32nd Business StartUp Show, which covered topics including "how to keep your overheads low" and "Growing your Business".[28]

In December 2014 Fear gave a keynote speech in association with South West Housing Initiative Ltd. (SWHI) at the meeting of its All Party Parliamentary Group at the House of Commons.[29]

Fear delivered a keynote speech during the Real Business Value Creation Conference in July 2015,[30] alongside other inspirational speakers including Lord Karan Bilimoria CBE and Jenny Tooth OBE.

In July 2015 Fear addressed an audience of over 450 employees of the Curo-Group, a Housing association with over 13000 properties spread across Wiltshire, Somerset, Gloucestershire and Bristol.


Personal life and Achievements

On 24 July 2013, during a ceremony at Bristol Cathedral, Fear was awarded an honorary Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) from the University of the West of England for his service to entrepreneurs.[31]

In the Summer of 2013, Fear joined Bristol Mayor, George Ferguson to become part of his Commission on Education and Skills whose goal is to improve the lives of Bristol's young people.[32] Fear accepted the position given his own childhood and lack of initial formal education.[33] During a ceremony on 25 June (2014) held at The Passenger Shed, Bristol, Fear was presented with a lifetime achievement prize at the Bristol Business Awards.[34]

References

  1. ↑ Watkins, Simon. "New site pledges help in the hunt for finance". This is money. Associated Northcliffe Digital. Retrieved 8 June 2012.
  2. ↑ Hobson, Griffith, Rebecca, Gabriella. "Drop-outs or Swots". LondonLovesBusiness.com.
  3. 1 2 3 Pukas, Anna. "The Phonebox Millionaire". 20.05.2011. The Daily Express.
  4. ↑ Greenhalgh, Hugo (7 September 2012). "On your marks for Rio 2016, business told". ft.com (Financial Times). Retrieved 18 March 2015.
  5. ↑ "Global Entrepreneurship Week: Rebalancing employment through entrepreneurship | Charlie Mullins | Independent Editor's choice Blogs". Blogs.independent.co.uk. 2012-11-13. Retrieved 2015-03-18.
  6. ↑ . 12 March 2015 http://www.theguardian.com/small-business-network/ups-partner-zone/2015/mar/12/what-is-stopping-small-businesses-exporting. Retrieved 2015-03-23. Missing or empty |title= (help)
  7. ↑ Fear, Stephen (4 February 2015). "Cashflow is king - business advice from the Phone Box Millionaire Stephen Fear". The Bristol Post. Retrieved 18 March 2015.
  8. ↑ "Stephen Fear - The Fear Group". Bmmagazine.co.uk. Retrieved 2015-03-18.
  9. ↑ "Stephen Fear". Huffingtonpost.co.uk. Retrieved 2015-03-18.
  10. ↑ "Stephen Fear - Fear Group". Is4profit.com. 1970-01-01. Retrieved 2015-03-18.
  11. ↑ Orton, Charles. "Stephen Fear runs more than 70 firms. Now he wants to talk to you | Features". LondonlovesBusiness.com. Retrieved 2015-03-18.
  12. ↑ "Stephen Fear's profile - Barclays Connector". Connector.barclays.co.uk. Retrieved 2015-03-18.
  13. ↑ "LondonlovesExcellence Awards, 25 June 2013, London Marriott Hotel, Grosvenor Square | Features". LondonlovesBusiness.com. 2013-06-25. Retrieved 2015-03-18.
  14. ↑ "London Loves Excellence Awards Judges Archives - London Loves Excellence Awards". London Loves Excellence Awards.
  15. ↑ "Fear Group / Fear on Food". Feargroup.com. Retrieved 2015-03-18.
  16. ↑ Video on YouTube
  17. ↑ http://britishlibrary.typepad.co.uk/business/2014/05/business-book-reviews-from-dr-stephen-fear.html
  18. ↑ "Fear Group / British Library Business and IP Centre Royal Visit". Fear Group.
  19. ↑ "Fear Group / SimplicityTalks from the V&A". Fear Group.
  20. ↑ "Heropreneurs delivers vital work, says Head of the Armed Forces" (Press release). Heropreneurs. Archived from the original on 22 October 2013. Retrieved March 18, 2015.
  21. ↑ Video on YouTube
  22. ↑ "The Phone Box Millionaire: Stephen Fear's Advice for Budding Entrepreneurs" (Press release). Cardiff University Innovation Network. Archived from the original on 30 October 2013. Retrieved March 18, 2015.
  23. ↑ http://gba.realbusiness.co.uk/ The judges
  24. ↑ "Libraries help the Devon economy". Exeterexpressandecho.co.uk. 2013-12-16. Retrieved 2015-03-18.
  25. ↑ "Young Entrepreneurs Workshop 2". Hayfestival.com. 2014-05-29. Retrieved 2015-03-18.
  26. ↑ "Self-made Bristol millionaire passes on advice to young in radio show". Bristolpost.co.uk. 2014-09-10. Retrieved 2015-03-18.
  27. ↑ "Advice: Key to success is knowing your market, by Stephen Fear". Bristol Post.
  28. ↑ Prysm Group. "ISSUU - The Business Show Guide Olympia London Nov 27 28 2014 by Prysm Group". Issuu.
  29. ↑ "Celebrating a decade of commitment to SWHI". southwesthousing.co.uk.
  30. ↑ "http://www.valuecreation.realbusiness.co.uk/attendees". External link in |title= (help)
  31. ↑ Ribbeck, Michael (2013-07-25). "Bristol businessman gets honorary degree | Bristol Post". Thisisbristol.co.uk. Retrieved 2015-03-18.
  32. ↑ "Bristol Mayor George Ferguson sets up commissions to tackle four of the key issues facing the city". Bristolpost.co.uk. 2013-05-21. Retrieved 2015-03-18.
  33. ↑ "Mayor calls up Bristol’s phonebox millionaire to help engage with city’s youth | Bristol Business News". Bristol-business.net. 2013-11-15. Retrieved 2015-03-18.
  34. ↑ "'Phonebox millionaire' and Williams Automobiles the big winners at Bristol Post Business Awards". Bristolpost.co.uk. 2014-06-26. Retrieved 2015-03-18.

External links

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