Sam Smith Speaker | Enterprise & New Speakers & Assemblies and Celebrations Events & Anti-Bullying & Drugs/Alcohol & Mental Health & Crime

Sam Smith

Sam shares his unique story in an engaging way that empowers, shocks, entertains, motivates and inspires. He understands overwhelming adversity and shares how to help overcome real-life challenges.

Growing up, Sam experienced abuse, being in care, homelessness, prison and a challenging education system. Despite this, he grew his first business from the boot of a car into a thriving, successful domestic and commercial cleaning company.

Sam has won many local and regional awards through the Princes Trust and Shell LiveWIRE, an online community for young entrepreneurs. Using his own lived experience to empower minds and transforming lives through education, entrepreneurship, and social justice.

An engaging speaker with over 23 years of experience in training, education, and enterprise. Sam has also been involved in the home services market for as long as he can remember- starting is first business from the boot of his car with a bucket and a sponge.

Sam’s life story is one of extraordinary triumph over harrowing adversity. Having faced the tragic loss of finding his only brother lying dead through a heroin overdose navigating a turbulent upbringing in a broken family environment, he emerged from a childhood marked by hardships, crime, and personal struggles and homelessness.

Sam’s journey is a testament to the power of determination and self-belief. From a turbulent past that included encounters with the police placed in to care the care of the local authority 13. Received is first spell in Youth Custody aged 15, 7 days after being released he was back in the same place couldn’t break the cycle it was a revolving door. Substance abuse, and a dark periods spent in prisons across the UK in the midst of the 1990s Strangways Prison riot thought he was going to burn alive he transcended these challenges. He discovered the resilience to rebuild his life, transforming his future by taking charge of his own destiny. Sam’s dedicated is adult life to making direct positive impacts, unlocking inner potential, helping to transform the lives of over 320 individuals and counting.

Sam’s Story is hard hitting, delivered with passion, humility, sensitivity and surprisingly with a lot of fun.

Testimonials from Teachers

"Sam is a hands on inspirational man who wants to do the best for youngsters stalled in their life and losing out on reaching their potential. Sam dedicates himself to creating programmes that can help 16 to 24 years olds to better themselves and start to create a life full of opportunity and rewards. Sam is charismatic, highly motivational and focused on helping others to succeed in life. I am glad I met Sam and can support him in his honourable endeavours. Bravo Sam"

– David O'Byrne, Executive and Operational Board leader and mentor

"Sam is a visionary leader who is deeply committed to social justice and equality. He has a clear understanding of the challenges facing disadvantaged communities and is always looking for innovative ways to address these issues."

– David Germain, CEO, Anderton Centre

"Sam has a natural gift working with young people who are vulnerable and at risk of “ slipping through the net”. He is a genuine person who wants to help and make a difference!!! I feel so pleased to be working alongside him as he is a true inspiration!!"

– Rita Highett, Careers Advisor

"Sam brought great enthusiasm to Aurora Woodlands School, when he delivered a talk on Resilience and Adversity. His lived experience was something many of our students identified with in this provision, for learners ,with Social Emotional and Mental Health issues.

Their journey is one that has encountered several adverse childhood experiences ( ACES), that has impacted on their well-being and led them to our Woodlands Family for Education and Nurturing care.

The impact of their lived experience can often leave a feeling of worthlessness and lack of self-esteem. Sam spoke about changing mindset and positivity and how you can be who you want to be. You just have to change your mindset.

Our learners facing Year 10 and 11, in school can become overwhelmed with the idea of leaving school care and making their way alone in a mainstream college, as they have been nurtured and protected with us . The same level of care is needed for transition to Post 16 and not always available. Some students are not academic and therefore feel quite vulnerable attending a college. For this reason, an alternative route would benefit , of which there seems to be a gap in the market.

Sam's talk of setting up his own business from scratch car washing and growing his business whilst supporting young people made the learners feel they could achieve something. Each of them recognised this is a task they could easily rise to. This should support their interest in work experience moving forward.

After the talk i received questions from those students attending like " Will he be coming back ?", " Do you think Sam will give me a job?". Words like inspired , happy , aware came out of the feedback from the learners and Staff commented on how inspired they were by Sam's enthusiasm being infectious."

– Janette Hilton, Safeguarding + Family Support Officer, Aurora Woodlands School Safeguarding + Family Support Officer