"I understand what a business audience actually needs from a host because I used to be sat in those seats myself."
Before I was a celebrant, I spent over 15 years working inside some of the UK's best-known brands, including B&Q, Barclays and John Lewis.
I know what it's like to sit through a town hall that drags, a panel that goes nowhere, or an awards night that loses its energy by the main course.
These days I write and deliver ceremonies for a living weddings, funerals, and everything in between.
That means I'm trained to hold a room, think on my feet, and make people feel something, without ever losing control of the running order. It's a skillset built on preparation, calm delivery, and genuinely connecting with an audience whatever the occasion.
That combination is rare: real corporate experience, paired with professional public speaking trained to a craft. I'm not a party entertainer moonlighting as a corporate host. I'm someone who's sat where your audience sits, and knows how to speak to them, not at them.
How I can help your event
Conference Hosting & MC
Welcomes, session links, timekeeping and energy management across full-day conferences, summits and multi-speaker events. I keep the programme moving and the audience with you, from opening remarks to closing thanks.
Awards Hosting
Pace, warmth and polish to keep an evening moving without losing the room, balancing formality with genuine enjoyment, so the awards themselves stay the focus.
Hybrid & Virtual Hosting
Comfortable holding energy for an in-room audience while keeping remote attendees genuinely engaged not an afterthought behind a screen.
Panel Moderation & Fireside Chats
Well-researched, structured questions that draw out real insight rather than rehearsed soundbites. I prepare properly with your speakers beforehand so the conversation on stage feels natural, not scripted.
Town Halls & Internal Events
A host who understands company culture and can bring the right tone to all-hands meetings, leadership days and internal comms events — professional, but never corporate-stiff.
Diversity, Inclusion & Pride Events
Hosting for Pride celebrations, D&I panels, and employee network events, with the same care and inclusive approach that's earned me a listing on Rebel Love, an LGBTQ+ inclusive wedding directory bringing that same warmth and lived experience authenticity to corporate inclusion events.
What my clients say
Andrea Ayre - Head of Internal Communications
"Richard has a real gift for helping people feel comfortable enough to have the conversations that matter. He expertly hosted our Pride Month leadership fireside chats with warmth, humour and professionalism, enabling honest discussions about LGBTQ+ inclusion that connected with more than 650 colleagues across the business."
Tell me what you need and I'll bring the rest
Every event is different, so this starts with you — the format, the people, and what you want the room to feel like by the end.
You tell me what you need, the format (panel, fireside chat, full conference, town hall), your speakers, your audience, and what success looks like on the day.
Getting the best out of your people, a panel is only as good as the questions behind it. I know how to draw real, honest answers out of speakers, bring quieter voices into the conversation, and stop one person taking over the room.
Scripting, your way want a fully written script for opening remarks, links or a toast? I'll write it with you. Prefer a loose brief and to speak naturally on the day? That works just as well. Either way, nothing feels stiff or read.
On the day, calm, professional and fully present, keeping the event on time and the room with you from start to finish.
FAQs
What's the difference between hiring an MC and a panel moderator?
An MC hosts and links the whole event, welcomes, transitions, timekeeping and energy. A moderator focuses specifically on running a panel discussion or Q&A, asking the right questions and managing multiple speakers. I offer both, and can combine them within the same event.
Do you host corporate events outside Dorset?
Yes. I'm based in Poole, Dorset, and host and moderate corporate events across the UK, including London, Bristol, Manchester and beyond, as well as virtual and hybrid formats.
How much does a corporate event host cost in the UK?
Corporate host and moderator day rates in the UK typically range from a few hundred pounds for smaller local events to several thousand for large conferences or broadcast-level names. Get in touch with your event details for a tailored quote.
Do you host virtual or hybrid events?
Yes, including managing chat and Q&A for remote audiences alongside the in-room experience, so no one watching from home feels like an afterthought.
What industries have you hosted or spoken for?
My own corporate career spans 15+ years in retail and financial services, including roles at B&Q, Barclays and John Lewis. I bring that commercial understanding to any sector, and I'm happy to share specific examples on a call.
How far in advance should we book a corporate host?
As early as possible to secure your date, ideally 2–3 months ahead for larger events though I can often accommodate shorter notice. Get in touch to check availability.
Can you write or help script our event, not just host it?
Yes. If you want a fully written script for opening remarks, links or a toast, I'll write it with you. If you'd rather work from a loose brief and speak naturally, that works just as well.
Do you have personal or professional experience with LGBTQ+ inclusion work?
Yes, I bring both lived experience and professional experience of workplace inclusion, including chairing the LGBTQ+ diversity network at B&Q for 3 years. That experience shapes how I host Pride events, D&I panels and employee network sessions with authenticity, rather than a generic script.
Why hire a host with real inclusion experience for a Pride or D&I event, rather than a general entertainer?
Inclusion events need a tone that's genuine, not performed. Having lived and worked through these conversations myself means I can hold the room with the right balance of warmth, humour and respect, without it feeling like a corporate box-tick.
Should we hire a professional host, or ask a colleague to do it?
A colleague can introduce speakers, but a professional host keeps time, reads the room, recovers from anything unplanned, and lets your own team relax and be part of the event rather than running it. For anything beyond a small internal meeting, that difference shows.
What size events do you host?
Anything from an intimate leadership away day of a dozen people to a full conference or awards dinner for several hundred , get in touch with your numbers and I'll confirm fit.
Do you host award ceremonies for a specific industry?
I bring particular commercial understanding to retail and financial services from my own 15+ year career, but I host award ceremonies and conferences across sectors, get in touch to discuss your industry specifically.