(Image: Newsquest)
Sir Richard Harpin, one of Yorkshire’s most successful entrepreneurs, shared the remarkable story behind building a £4.1 billion international company as he headlined the second day of the York Business Festival.
The founder of HomeServe and Growth Partner delivered the festival’s keynote address at York St John University, offering practical lessons for business owners, entrepreneurs and aspiring leaders from across York and North Yorkshire.
Born and raised in Yorkshire, Sir Richard’s entrepreneurial journey began long before he became one of Britain’s best-known business figures.
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As a teenager, he built and sold a fly-fishing tackle business, helping fund his first car and contribute towards his first home.
After graduating from the University of York and working for Procter & Gamble, he co-founded HomeServe with an initial investment of £50,000.
What started as a simple idea to make home repairs easier and more reliable for customers grew into a global business serving millions of people.
In 2023, HomeServe was sold in a deal worth £4.1 billion, cementing Sir Richard’s place among the UK’s most successful entrepreneurs.
Delegates heard how that journey formed the basis of his bestselling book, How to Make a Billion in Nine Steps, which draws on decades of experience in identifying opportunities, building strong businesses, recruiting talented people and creating long-term growth.
Rather than focusing on a single breakthrough moment, Sir Richard emphasised the importance of discipline, continuous learning and applying practical principles consistently over time.
His message resonated strongly with the audience of business leaders, founders and professionals gathered for one of the festival’s flagship sessions.
Today, Sir Richard continues to support ambitious businesses through Growth Partner and Business Leader, while also championing entrepreneurship among young people through The Enterprise Trust.
For York’s business community, his appearance provided a powerful reminder that world-leading companies can emerge from Yorkshire with the right vision, determination and ambition.
Delegates also had the opportunity to collect complimentary copies of his book, with Sir Richard taking time to sign them after the event.