Chancellor,

 

The University of Bristol is known for innovation and has produced many exceptional entrepreneurs. These are often in the context of business, spin-out companies and IPO launches. Today, however, it is my honour to talk to you about a Bristol graduate who has channelled this entrepreneurial spirit into creating a charity to help others.

 

Michael de Giorgio, founder and trustee of Greenhouse Sports, has had a positive impact on the lives of tens of thousands of young people in London by offering them the chance to take part in sport. Michael’s charity creates new opportunities for sport and educational development in schools in deprived areas of London. By opening the door to sport, the charity is building confidence and raising aspirations alongside physical skills.

 

Michael graduated from the University of Bristol with a degree in Politics in 1979. A key factor in Michael’s choice of Bristol was the entrepreneurial spirit of both the University and the city. This quality has typified Michael’s career ever since.

 

On graduation, Michael left Bristol and joined one of the large corporate accountancy firms. After three years of training he decided to take a risk and left the security of a steady career trajectory to establish his own financial services firm, originally with a partner before striking out on his own in 1986. Demonstrating the ambition and spirit of innovation that brought him to Bristol, he successfully grew his company and was well respected in the industry.

 

In 2001, Michael sold his financial consulting business, but rather than relax – as many might have in his shoes - his entrepreneurial instincts were sparked again. He decided to use his time, energy and focus to work with people to change futures and make a difference by founding Greenhouse Sports.

 

Greenhouse Sports is an innovative charity. It uses the power of sport to transform the lives of young people from disadvantaged backgrounds in London. This is done through a series of programmes in mainstream secondary schools, special educational needs schools and community clubs where experienced coaches spend a lot of time in the schools working with pupils to provide opportunities for sport and wider development.

 

Under Michael’s tenure, Greenhouse Sports has grown from one multisport holiday camp in 2002 to an organisation providing opportunities to 38,000 young people from communities all over London.

 

Central to Michael’s work is a focus on people and helping them to achieve their potential. This focus on the individual is critical to the mission of Greenhouse Sports.

 

The charity provides highly skilled, enthusiastic coaches to work in partnership with the schools to provide sports coaching for all pupils in a range of sports. They have a particular focus on basketball and table tennis as activities that can help break down barriers and provide an entry point for further physical activity.

 

While individual sessions may focus on improving a pupil’s backhand or chest-pass, the programme is not really about the sporting skill. It is about building confidence, raising aspirations and developing wider educational outcomes to help the young people grow and meet their potential.

 

This investment is not just limited to the pupils though; Greenhouse also invests in training and supporting the coaches so that they can thrive, and Michael has good reason to be proud of the cadre of young coaches that Greenhouse Sports has developed.

 

Any great enterprise begins with an idea. The successful charity we have today in Greenhouse Sports is a testament to Michael’s vision and perseverance, and his ability to bring his initial idea to fruition, to overcome barriers and build a skilled team.

 

Michael’s emphasis on investing in people, his desire to raise aspirations in his community and his willingness to take a risk are critical to Greenhouse’s success. The charity’s positive impact on thousands of lives stems from his entrepreneurial spirt and desire to make a positive difference.

 

Michael has received widespread recognition from government agencies and think-tanks for his vision and work. He was awarded an OBE in the Queen’s 2017 birthday honours for his services to Sport and Community in London.

 

Bristol can be proud of this alumnus who has used his entrepreneurial spirit to open doors for young people across London.

 

Chancellor, I present to you Michael de Giorgio as eminently worthy of the degree of Doctor of Laws honoris causa.