AMBITIOUS entrepreneurs have the chance to learn from the best at a talk with the former boss of Excalibur Communications this week.

The business briefing, taking place this Thursday at the Workshed from 12 midday, is inviting chairman of Excalibur James Phipps to share the secrets behind his 22-years of business success.

In this time James achieved the buyout of seven other smaller firms and took the company's pre-tax profits to £1.5 million.

The talk, entitled How to Build a Business Empire, will include an interview and a live Q & A followed by networking.

Swindon-born James, who sold his majority shares in 2018 and stepped down as chief executive, said: “It’s all about planning, perspective and people – especially the people! You need a plan B and have to be prepared to react when the unexpected happens.

"It’s not the problems you face that are the issue – but how you and your team respond to them.”

James has also agreed to private coach three business owners for 45 minutes after the interview.

The talk is the first in a series of Business Builder Briefings by the team at the Workshed to inspire Swindon and Wiltshire entrepreneurs.

Tickets cost £20, part of which will be donated to Younite Foundation, a charity James helped to set up in 2016.

For more information and booking a place go to jamesphipps.eventbrite.co.uk. As part of the package, delegates will have free, all-day access to The Workshed’s facilities from 9am to 5pm.

Anyone wishing to apply for the free coaching needs to submit a one-page summary of their problem-solving business ideas to rhonajack@theprcatalyst.co.uk

Excalibur Communications, based in Arclite House, North Swindon, was voted amongst the top 100 companies to work for by the Sunday Times for 2018 and a received gold “Investor in People Award”.