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Transform high streets and town centres with Bill Grimsey, speaker, retail transformation expert. Bill works with local authorities to revitalise community spaces, reimagine retail models, and create sustainable economic hubs, delivering influential policy frameworks recognised by government and businesses nationwide.
Bill Grimsey is a British retail transformation expert who combines 45 years of executive leadership experience with forward-thinking insights on revitalizing high streets and town centres for the 21st century.
As former CEO of Wickes plc, the Big Food Group (Iceland and Booker), and Focus DIY Ltd, Bill has navigated complex retail challenges across food and DIY sectors. His executive career includes senior director positions at Tesco and managing Hong Kong's leading supermarket chain, Park'n'Shop Ltd. He was awarded an Honorary Doctorate in Business Administration from the University of South-West England for his contributions to retailing.
Bill helps local authorities and businesses adapt to fundamental shifts in consumer behaviour and digital disruption through his influential publications. His Grimsey Reviews (2013 and 2018) provide practical frameworks for reimagining town centres beyond traditional retail models, addressing property ownership challenges, and creating community-focused spaces that serve modern needs while preserving local identity.
Audiences gain actionable strategies for high street revitalization based on data-driven insights, practical case studies of successful town centre transformations, and innovative approaches to repurposing commercial spaces for mixed community use. Bill's recommendations have influenced both local and central government policy.
Book Bill for an unvarnished assessment of retail's future and a pragmatic roadmap for creating vibrant, sustainable community hubs where businesses can thrive.
With 45 years of executive leadership experience and influential publications that have shaped government policy, Bill Grimsey delivers actionable strategies for transforming high streets and town centres into vibrant community hubs beyond traditional retail models. Book this retail transformation expert for an unvarnished assessment of retail's future and a pragmatic roadmap that will help your business thrive in the changing commercial landscape.
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frequently asked questions
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To book Bill Grimsey, email bill.grimsey@getapeptalk.com or call PepTalk on +44 20 3835 2929 (UK) or +1 737 888 5112 (US), and one of our speaker agents will contact you within hours to confirm Bill's availability and speaking fee. If you can, please include your budget upfront – it helps us fast-track your request. It’s also helpful to know the date, format (virtual or in-person), location, and about your audience.
Bill Grimsey draws on his Grimsey Reviews (2013 and 2018) as a structural framework, presenting data-driven findings alongside practical case studies of town centre transformations to give audiences a policy-informed roadmap for high street revitalisation.
Bill Grimsey speaks on high street and town centre revitalisation, retail transformation, digital disruption in consumer behaviour, and community-focused repurposing of commercial spaces. He held CEO roles at Wickes plc, the Big Food Group (Iceland and Booker), and Focus DIY Ltd, and authored the Grimsey Reviews (2013 and 2018), which have influenced local and central government policy on town centre strategy.
No. PepTalk adds no booking fee, so you pay the speaker's fee and nothing beyond it. The service, from shortlist through to contracts and event-day logistics, is included. For repeat or multi-event bookings, PepTalk can agree preferential rates with your procurement team.
Share your event date, audience, format, objectives and budget, and PepTalk sends a hand-picked shortlist within 24 hours. Each suggestion comes with a profile, a fee and a recommendation on the strongest fit. Once you choose, PepTalk handles contracts, travel and logistics through to event day.
The typical fee range is the speaker's standard in-person fee in their home market, shown in their local currency. It moves with format, location, date and session length: virtual sessions and shorter slots usually cost less, while international travel and peak dates cost more. Send your brief to PepTalk and the team will confirm the exact fee in your currency.
Not all of them, and it makes no difference to your booking. PepTalk's network of 15,000+ speakers covers talent the team works with directly alongside speakers represented by agents and agencies worldwide. PepTalk approaches the speaker, negotiates the fee and handles contracting either way.
Three to six months ahead is comfortable for most events, and 12 months is better for large conferences, peak-season dates or one specific in-demand speaker. Shorter timelines are workable, and PepTalk regularly fills last-minute and replacement bookings within days. Availability is the constraint, so get in touch as soon as you have a date.
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