Dragon’s Den investor and UK entrepreneur Deborah Meaden has been announced as the keynote speaker at Devon Chamber of Commerce’s Annual Business Dinner in May.

Taking place on Thursday, May 19, at Sandy Park, Exeter, the dinner will bring together business leaders from across the county for an evening of black tie networking, including a three-course meal and a motivational keynote speech.

Ms Meaden will join the Chamber and an expected audience of 500 business people to give a ‘Dragon’s eye view’ of business.

Having left school after O-Levels, she studied at business college before launching her own business at the age of 19. Throughout her career Ms Meaden has embarked on a number of other business ventures and worked her way up to further her career through a variety roles within Weststar Holidays, growing the business and undertaking a management buyout before selling the company in 2005.

She joined the panel for series three of BBC 2 programme Dragons Den and has since invested in a number of businesses. Today her portfolio of investments ranges from a market research company to Value My Stuff, an online valuation service.

She said: “I am delighted to be speaking at Devon Chamber of Commerce’s Annual Business Dinner. Devon has a vibrant, thriving economy and I look forward to sharing a Dragon’s eye view of business with the guests present on the evening.

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Having lived and worked in the South West I’m familiar with the challenges that Devon businesses face and hope to share some advice and pointers from my own experiences that will be of use to those businesses looking to grow.”

Previous chamber annual business dinners have welcomed a variety of high profile business speakers including Wayne Hemingway, Alex Polizzi, Ruby Wax and Jo Fairley.

Suzi Cumberland, head of operations for Devon Chamber of Commerce, said: “The chamber is really looking forward to welcoming Deborah Meaden as our keynote speaker at this year’s annual business dinner. The dinner is a highlight in the chamber’s calendar attracting businesses from around the county to celebrate a successful year in business.

’Having welcomed high profile speakers to this event over the past six years, we’re confident that Deborah will provide an interesting and motivating speech which the business community of Devon will enjoy.”

Attendees at the chamber’s upcoming Excellence in Devon business conference on Friday (March 11) will receive ten per cent off tickets. Tickets are still available for the Excellence in Devon business conference and can be found on the chamber website along with information on the annual business dinner here www.devonchamber.co.uk