British Council Creative Economy

David has worked with the British Council Creative Economy Unit and the British Council internationally in many countries around the world, including Azerbaijan, Belarus, Brazil, Chile, China, Georgia, Lithuania, the Philippines, Taiwan, Ukraine, Vietnam and Zimbabwe.

He has been commissioned to deliver creative business training workshops by the British Council Creative Economy Unit and has worked with British Council offices in various countries around the world as a speaker and on other projects to help creative and cultural enterprises.

“David was an inspiring guest speaker at the launch of the Creative Entrepreneurs Network in Beijing. As an experienced creative entrepreneur, business adviser and author of T-Shirts and Suits he was an ideal speaker for our network of creative entrepreneurs.”
– Liang Junhong. British Council Beijing. China.

The British Council has also helped in various ways to make David’s book ‘T-Shirts and Suits: A Guide to the Business of Creativity’ available in translations in several countries around the world.

The British Council Creative Economy Unit supports creative and cultural entrepreneurs and David is an expert in creative entrepreneurship. Through the British Council Creative Economy Unit  and a wide range of other organisations supporting the creative economy internationally, he provides creative industries business advice, management consultancy, creative enterprise training workshops, speeches and presentations.

David is a keynote speaker at Creative Economy events including creative industry conferences, and cultural industries projects, including creative hubs and creative cities. He speaks on a range of issues around creative and cultural entrepreneurship, cultural business development and business models for cultural organisations. David speaks about the Orange Economy, the Digital Economy and Business Creativity.

David’s listing as a creative economy expert on the British Council Creative Economy Unit website says:

“David is a business adviser, trainer, writer and speaker, and works internationally helping creative and cultural enterprises to become even more successful. David Parrish is the author of the book ‘T-Shirts and Suits: A Guide to the Business of Creativity’.

David uses his knowledge and experience to help creative enterprises become even more successful through specialist training and consultancy projects.

He has direct experience of leading and managing creative enterprises. His practical experience is complemented by professional credentials, which include academic qualifications and membership of several management institutes.

David adds value to clients’ businesses internationally by transferring great ideas and management techniques between industries and across national boundaries. He empowers clients by helping them to adapt international best practice to their own local circumstances.

David’s work is internationally respected and he has assisted businesses and organisations in Azerbaijan, Belarus, Belgium, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, China, Colombia, Croatia, Curaçao, Denmark, Egypt, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Holland, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Korea (South), Kosovo, Laos, Lebanon, Lithuania, Malaysia, Moldova, Morocco, New Zealand, Norway, the Philippines, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Serbia, Singapore, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, Thailand, Turkey, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, USA, Vietnam and Zimbabwe, as well as in the United Kingdom.

“Workshop participants were very impressed and inspired by David’s speech and book because he avoided using jargon, gave clear illustrations to describe what creative business is about and explained the general principles of running a creative business. He talked about some important issues, such as intellectual property, business formulas, knowing your competitors, knowing your market, and being prepared to say No.”
– HsinYi Ku. British Council, Taiwan


David's British Council Creative Economy unit workshop for creative entrepreneurs in Harare, Zimbabwe
David’s British Council Creative Economy unit workshop for creative entrepreneurs in Harare, Zimbabwe

David is an international keynote speaker at creative industry conferences, conventions, summits, forum and other events on subjects including:

  • A Million Successful Small Creative Enterprises – Connected in Communities. Creative Entrepreneurship and Creative Hubs
  • How to be a Creative Entrepreneur. Combining creative passion with smart business techniques to achieve greater success.
  • Marketing Strategically. How to increase sales and profits by focusing on the right kinds of customers.
  • How to Make Money While You Sleep. Creating, protecting and licensing intellectual property to generate new income streams.
  • New Business Models in the Creative Industries. New ways to raise finance, engage with customers and sell creative products and services.
  • Leading and Managing Creative Teams. How to increase performance using six leadership styles to inspire and manage creative people.
  • T-Shirts and Suits: How successful creative entrepreneurs integrate their creativity with smart business thinking.

See Keynote Speaker page for more topic and testimonials about David’s speeches and presentations.

As a specialist creative industries keynote speaker, business consultant and author, he has worked in more than 60 countries around the world, with the British Council Creative Economy Unit or other clients.

He speaks to audiences of creative and cultural entrepreneurs and people involved in supporting creative industry development. David’s keynote speeches feature ideas he has written about in his books on business growth and strategic marketing, including pricing, finance, intellectual property, new business models in the creative industries, leadership, marketing techniques, competitive advantage, organisational structures, financial management and other business topics. His talks draw on his own story, personal experience and case studies from hundreds of businesses he has helped internationally.

See some examples of David Parrish speaking at conferences in Colombia, Italy, England, Norway and Denmark on YouTube.

Some conferences and events at which David has been invited as a creative industries speaker are listed below. He is also often invited to give presentations, talks and workshops for a range of different organisations and events.  David also occasionally delivers academic lectures at business schools as a university guest lecturer.

  • Creative Business Summit Africa. Speech on ‘The Business of Creativity’ at this pan-African conference in Nairobi, Kenya. (more…)
  • ‘Festival Naranja’. The Orange Economy conference for the creative industries in Bogotá, Colombia. (more…)
  • Ejadah Creative Economy Conference and Exhibition in Saudi Arabia 2016. Keynote speech on the Creative Economy and presentation on Creative Entrepreneurship. (more…)
  • The Digital Debate in Bogotá, Colombia. Keynote speaker on business growth opportunities for creative and digital entrepreneurs in the Digital Era. (more…)
  • Business Wisdom Summit, Ukraine. Opening keynote speech on ‘How to Profit from Creativity in Business’ (more…)
  • EVCOMference 2015 keynote speaker at national conference for the Event and Visual Communication Association. Keynote speech: “The Art and Science of Effective Communication and Engagement” (more…)
  • TEDxENCGJ, El Jadida, Morocco. TEDx talk on marketing, focusing on authentic marketing and strategic marketing, within the TEDx event theme of ‘Power is Illusion’. (more…)
  • Digital Ecosystem 2014 Conference organised by EIKEN in Bilbao, Spain. Keynote speech on New Business Opportunities in the Digital Age for AudioVisual and other digital, design and technology businesses. (more…)
  • Startup Malaysia. Presentation on Innovation and Creativity for Startups. Talk to digital startup entrepreneurs in Kuala Lumpur.
  • GrowthAccelerator. The UK’s premier business growth programme. Now part of the Business Growth Service.
    Presentation on Strategic Marketing for Business Success for high growth businesses.
  • World Summit of Creative Industries 2014
    at the Global Entrepreneurship Congress (GEC), Moscow
    Speech: “How to be a Creative Entrepreneur”
  • 2014 International Conference on Entrepreneurship, Philippines
    Speech on ‘Creativity and Business: T-Shirts and Suits’
  • Creative Business Cup International Finals. Denmark 2013
    Presentation: ‘T-Shirts and Suits”, with examples from creative entrepreneurs around the world. (see video…)
  • Creative Industries Agency, Moscow, Russia
    Presentation on creativity and business at the Summer School for Russian creative entrepreneurs
  • Korea Creative Economy Forum 2013
    Keynote speaker on Creativity and Business at Government-level national event in creative city Seoul
  • Samsung Conference. Lisbon, Portugal
    Keynote speaker on “Creativity and Business” at corporate event for technology giant Samsung Portugal
  • TEDxNapoli. Italy
    Keynote speaker on theme of ‘Crisis and Creativity’, with TED talk entitled ‘a-Creativity : i-Creativity’. (see video…)
  • Cultural Economy Conference. Ministry of Culture. Santiago, Chile
    Conference speech on Innovation and Entrepreneurship at conference hosted by Government of Chile
  • SATU, Finland’s organisation for media production companies producers of TV and audiovisual content
    Keynote speaker on New Business Models in the Creative Industries for TV, film and video companies
  • Culture and Creative Industry Forum. Taipei Trade Center. Taiwan
    Conference speech on ‘T-Shirts and Suits: Creativity and Business’ for design businesses and other creative enterprises
  • Forum Bizkaia Creaktiva, Bilbao, Spain
    Presentation on Creativity and Enterprise. Creative startups, creative hubs and business growth.
  • ABEDESIGN (Brazilian Association of Design Companies), São Paulo, Brazil
    Speech on business models based on intellectual property for design businesses.

See more examples below of David’s speaking at events organised by the British Council Creative Economy Unit or other organisations in China, South Korea, Finland, Brazil, Italy, Vietnam, Colombia, Norway and the Netherlands…

What they say about David’s speeches and presentations

“Creative entrepreneurs from all over Russia said that David’s presentation was very inspiring, entertaining and very useful for them.  His presentation “Creativity and Business: How to Succeed as a Creative Entrepreneur” was amazing and I am sure it will help develop creative entrepreneurship in Russia. We were very pleased to invite David to Moscow to work with us. David is a very bright and powerful expert. Thank you very much for your very interesting speech!”
– Olga Kizina. Director. Creative Industries Agency. Moscow. Russia.

“David was an inspiring guest speaker at the launch of the Creative Entrepreneurs Network in Beijing. As an experienced creative entrepreneur, business adviser and author of T-Shirts and Suits he was an ideal speaker for our network of creative entrepreneurs.”
– Liang Junhong. British Council Beijing. China.

“David Parrish is a very inspirational speaker. The way he illustrates his points is excellent. He makes you laugh and instantly you start to think about your own ideas and projects.”
– Eli Folkestadaas. British-Norwegian Chamber of Commerce. Oslo

“EXCELLENT was the overwhelming response of delegates about David’s speech on ‘Creativity and Business’ at the Shropshire Creative Business Conference.”
– Delia Yapp. Shropshire Council. England.

“International adviser David Parrish was to many of the participants the most interesting speech on the conference, with his new perspectives on creativity and business. He had a clear message and used convenient examples.”
– Ingvil Mjøen.  Det bobler! Conference Organiser. Norway

“Creative Industries Guru.”
– British Council, Lithuania.

read more testimonials

David is author of the highly-acclaimed book, audiobook and eBook ‘T-Shirts and Suits: A Guide to the Business of Creativity’. His approach to business development combines creative people [“T-Shirts”] with smart business thinking [“Suits”]. His marketing book ‘Chase One Rabbit: Strategic Marketing for Business Success’ is available as a paperback, eBook and Audiobook.

See videos of David Parrish speaking. For example: Creativity and Business; TEDxNapoli speech on a-creativity:i-creativity; and at the International Finals of the Creative Business Cup in Denmark.

He speaks with authority about creative entrepreneurship, creativity in business and a range of management subjects relevant to the creative, digital and cultural industries. Marketing, business growth, leadership, intellectual property and raising finance are included in his speeches and presentations.

He is often invited to speak at creative industries conferences world-wide and to make presentations to creative entrepreneurs and business support organisations. He specialises in inspiring entrepreneurs with examples of how creative people can use smart business thinking to make their creative enterprises even more successful. At creative economy summits, he speaks about his own experiences as an entrepreneur and the successes of hundreds of creative and digital businesses he has helped throughout the world in his role as a specialist creative industries management consultant and trainer.

Conference organisers and creative industries summit audiences say that David is an inspirational speaker on enterprise in the creative industries. He specialises in helping design, media and technology businesses in the creative and cultural industries. He is also a keynote speaker on creative entrepreneurship.

He speaks about new business models in the creative industries, strategic marketing, international business, protecting and commercialising intellectual property, leadership, business planning, enterprise development, business growth, raising financial investment, the creative economy, creative industry development, creative entrepreneurship and other aspects of business management relevant to creative and digital enterprises.

David has delivered keynote speeches, presentations, seminars and guest lectures on the subject of creativity and business, business models, the creative economy and creative entrepreneurship at conferences, events and meetings world-wide, including:

  • Speech about ‘T-Shirts and Suits’ at the International Finals of the Creative Business Cup in Copenhagen, Denmark
  • Keynote speaker at Korea Creative Economy Forum in Seoul, South Korea
  • Presentation on Creative Entrepreneurship in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, in association with the British Council
  • Keynote speaker on “Creativity and Business”. Samsung Conference. Lisbon, Portugal.
  • Wintec Media Arts, Waikato Institute of Technology. Hamilton, New Zealand
  • “Creativity, Business and How to Make Money While you Sleep” at British Council ‘Management Express’ event, Harare, Zimbabwe
  • Massey University College of Creative Arts, Wellington, New Zealand
  • TEDx Napoli. Speaker on “a-Creativity : i-Creativity”, Naples, Italy
  • Special event for creative businesses in Cuiabá, Mato Grosso State, Brazil
  • Encuentro Internacional de Economía Creativa, Valparaíso, Chile
  • ABEDESIGN (Brazilian Association of Design Companies), São Paulo, Brazil
  • Media & Message conference for TV producers. Finland
  • Speaking on ‘Making Money While You Sleep’ at Cornwall Business Club
  • Guest lecturer at opening of Creative Industries Management Masters programme. Universidade Católica Portuguesa. Porto. Portugal
  • ‘Innovate or Stagnate’ conference, on the platform with Google and Apple
  • Biskaia Creaktiva. Creativity Zentrum. Spain
  • Shanghai Creative Industry Week, China
  • University of Bogotá Jorge Tadeo Lozano, Colombia
  • Det Bobler! Conference. Drammen, Norway
  • Mötesplats Mode&Design, MM&D. Stockholm, Sweden
  • ‘Creative Ambition 2’ Conference. Birmingham
  • CYFLE Animation Masterclass, Cardiff
  • Enterprise Centre for the Creative Arts (ECCA), University of the Arts, London
  • Marketing and Advertising Global Network (MAGNET). Guest speaker at international conference in Munich, Germany
  • CMKBU: University of the Arts in Utrecht, Netherlands
  • ‘Supporting Creative Industries’ conference, Liverpool
  • ‘Creative Clusters’ Conference
  • Taiwan International Cultural and Creative Industries Exhibition and Forum

“David’s talk at the Creative People Conference was that rare thing, refreshingly open, informative and amusing.  I particularly appreciated his frankness about great failures he has known – not least because they made his comments on how to avoid them more pertinent.  A very engaging speaker.”
– Jeanne Jenner. Chief Executive. Arts+Media Training

At conferences he is often asked to speak about bringing together creativity and business (‘T-Shirts and Suits’) and how creative businesses and organizations can use the best business ideas adapted to their own circumstances in a way which is consistent with their values and objectives.

David makes speeches about the creative economy, the creative industries internationally, new business models in the creative industries, creative industry development, creative entrepreneurship, innovation, marketing, intellectual property, leadership, finance, management and other themes from his book ‘T-Shirts and Suits: A Guide to the Business of Creativity’.

A marketing expert, David is the author of the book ‘Chase One Rabbit: Strategic Marketing for Business Success’. As a marketing speaker he gives keynote speeches, lectures, talks and presentation at conferences and other events internationally.

He has also presented many seminars, lectures and workshops on subjects such as marketing, business growth, intellectual property, strategic planning, financial management, leadership, change management, pricing and other business issues relevant to creative enterprises.

David has set up and managed enterprises in the creative industries throughout his career and is an entrepreneur in his own right, as well as a business adviser and trainer.

He is qualified with a Masters Degree in Business Administration (MBA), awarded ‘with distinction’.

David is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Marketing and a ‘Chartered Marketer’. He is also a member of the Institute of Consulting, a Fellow of the Institute of Leadership and Management, and a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts.

David has worked with the British Council Creative Economy Unit or other organisations in Azerbaijan, Belarus, Belgium, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, China, Colombia, Croatia, Denmark, Egypt, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Holland, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Kenya, Korea (South), Kosovo, Laos, Lithuania, Malaysia, Moldova, Morocco, New Zealand, Norway, the Philippines, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Serbia, Singapore, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, Thailand, Turkey, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, USA, Vietnam and Zimbabwe, as well as in the United Kingdom, in his capacity as a business adviser, trainer, consultant and speaker.

For more information and client recommendations about David’s work as a creative industry speaker, see the Speaking and Presentations document on this page.

Contact David Parrish’s offices in the UK about David making a keynote speech or being a guest speaker at your conference, convention, expo, seminar, symposium, meeting, dinner or lecture.

David Parrish is a specialist speaker on creative industry, creative industries, cultural industries, creative enterprise, cultural enterprise, the creative economy and arts businesses. He has worked with the British Council Creative Economy Unit and British Council offices around the world.

He is an expert on creativity and business and has been a keynote speaker and guest speaker at numerous creative industries events, with the British Council Creative Economy Unit and other organisations, businesses, government departments and institutions.

Read client testimonials about David’s speeches and presentations on the Speaking and Presentations document on this page.

“Creative Industries Guru.”
– British Council, Lithuania.

“Crucially, it is not a compromise between creativity and business – it’s a matter of getting the best of both worlds.”
– David Parrish, “British guru in the creative enterprise sphere”,
quoted online alongside Richard Branson, Madonna, Felix Dennis and Edward de Bono.


British Council Creative Economy Unit invited David to give a workshop in Lithuania when his book was published in translation in Lithuania.

David with workshop participants at a British Council creative economy project with creative entrepreneurs in Lithuania
British Council creative entrepreneurs in Lithuania with David

The British Council Creative Economy Unit commissioned David to deliver workshops in Zimbabwe.

Creative business worksop in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe


The British Council Creative Economy Unit co-ordinated David’s visit to Taiwan, where he spoke at a conference and gave a workshop for creative entrepreneurs when his book T-Shirts and Suits was translated into traditional Chinese and published in Taiwan.

Photo of David with publisher of Chinese translation of 'T-Shirts and Suits', Aven Kuei in Taiwan
David with publisher of Chinese translation of ‘T-Shirts and Suits’, Aven Kuei in Taiwan