Simon Woodroffe

Leaving school at 16, Simon spent thirty years in the entertainment business. Through the 1970s and 80s, his production companies, based in London and Los Angeles, designed rock ‘n’ roll stages for artists like Rod Stewart, The Moody Blues and Stevie Wonder and big media events like Live Aid. Simon moved into television at the start of the 1990’s. He spearheaded the development of television deals to show huge international rock concerts worldwide, organising the financing and distribution of the Nelson Mandela concerts, shows for Amnesty International and the Prince’s Trust concerts. (His television production deals included Japan’s number one pop show ‘Hit Studio International.’) The beginning of the 90s were a turning point for Simon. He focused on self-development to conquer aspects of his character that had held him back. His understanding of motivation and the drive to exceed personal limitations is borne of experience.

YO! Sushi is a lifestyle brand that grew out of the initial restaurant concept, that eating can be a complete entertainment experience. After two years in development, the first restaurant opened on London’s Poland Street. Now the focus is on the international market where Simon is busy developing deals to take the YO! brand across Europe and into the United States. YO! Sushi and its adjacent sister bar; YO! Below in Clerkenwell, won the accolade of Best Venue at the Retailers’ Retailer of the Year Awards 2001, just three months after opening, and YO! Sushi and YO! Below picked up multiple awards for their Edinburgh operation in The Retail Interiors Awards 2001 too (including winner of Outstanding Retail Experience and Food & Supermarket Design). I

In 2000, Simon won ‘Group Restaurateur of the Year’ at the Catey awards and YO! Below was awarded the Design and Art Direction award in the Design for Leisure category. In 1999, Simon won Entrepreneur of the Year Award (Ernst & Young) and became part of the CBI / BCC Ambassador of Entrepreneurs campaign, with which he is still actively involved. He was also a finalist in the Real Business Awards Entrepreneur of the Year. For YO! Sushi he has received awards from Design Week (Best Restaurant), Marketing Week – Design Effectiveness Awards 1998 and Best Web Site for Hospitality Solutions 1999. The Book of YO! (Capstone, 2000) became WH Smith Travel’s best-selling business book on its release.

“Thank you Simon – great story!   We are still buzzing from your talk and you are definately unique!”   NHS