Founder of Smyle Group and the influential, industry-wide volunteer initiative, One Industry One Voice, Rick Stainton, joins Jack and Ellan this week.
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Establishing his love of events way back whilst at university, even a broken neck and a failed business did not put him off. After spending time mastering his skills working for other agencies, he finally set up creative agency Smyle Events. Now seven-times winner of Agency of the Year and with a keen focus on innovation, diversity and sustainability, Smyle works with many big named global clients.
![image005](https://usercontent.one/wp/www.theeventsinsight.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/image005.jpg)
In August 2020, in response to the deluge of individual campaigns coming from different core sectors in the industry, Rick founded One Industry One Voice to bring them together with a strong message, providing a better understanding about the value of and power of events. This successful work is ongoing and now has a large and still growing following.
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Believing in surrounding yourself with people that are better than you, he values a good attitude higher than qualifications and is a keen advocate of collaboration and respect for diversity – and his “positive paranoia” mantra ensures that he never becomes complacent.
Listen to the story of lucky timing when hiring a then unknown James Blunt, and hear him become poetic when talking about good quality rum!
Full Episode available to download now from