Farewell New Zealand!

En route home now after a very busy 'business and pleasure' trip.
Said farewell to my New Zealand friends before heading for Auckland airport.
Before I left, I was featured on the Fairfax New Zealand News Service 'Stuff' website -
http://www.stuff.co.nz/business/money/8229750/Perseverance-beats-the-poverty-trap
The interview was with Catherine Harris. You can read the full story on the link.

Great welcome here in New Zealand

I've had a great welcome here in New Zealand.
Earlier this week, I was interviewed live by RadioLIVE New Zealand.
Today, it was time for the big speech to a packed house at a wealth seminar in Auckland.
It was a great experience and it was wonderful to meet so many enthusiastic businesspeople.

PS: Enjoyed this chalkboard outside a local restaurant - "No man is rich enough to buy back his past, so enjoy the moment!"

Big 'Best Man' surprise for me!

This trip to New Zealand is a mix of business and pleasure.
The 'business' end will be a speech to a big audience in Aukland on the 30th.
Yesterday was the 'pleasure' part of the trip.
I'd been invited to attend the wedding of Colin and Vicky Millar, who have been great friends since 1999.
They surprised me five minutes before the ceremony by asking me to be the Best Man!
It was a great honour and I thoroughly enjoyed the day.
Colin and Vicky got engaged on a trip to Wales last year and  Colin bought Vicky a Clogau Welsh gold engagement ring.
My presents to them were Clogau gold cufflinks for Colin and a Clogau love spoon pendant for Vicky.
The wedding was in a smashing setting, with vintage cars and tractors featured as part of the day.
It was a spectacular occasion.
Best wishes go to Colin and Vicky for the future.

My interview with What House? magazine

It was nice to talk to Laurna Robertson of What House? magazine.
Her 'Celebrity Interview' feature can be found on the following weblink -
http://magazine.whathouse.co.uk/WhatHouseIssue1/issue10

Keynote speaker role for business awards

It is with great pleasure that I have acccepted the invitation to be the keynote speaker at the annual Swansea Bay business awards.
Details of tickets etc will be published in the South Wales Evening Post shortly.
But here is the likely scenario for those interested in attending -
· Venue: The Marriott Hotel
· Date: Thursday 14th March, 2013
· Time: 7pm arrival
· Dress code: Smart
· Sponsors- The Marriott Hotel & PwC
· Guest speaker: Kevin Green http://www.kevingreen.co.uk/
· Ticket price: £40 per head, £350 for a table of 10.

Check out Swansea Bay Business Life magazine

Worth checking out Swansea Bay Business Life magazine this month.
There's a nice story about the time I shared a stage with former USA President Bill Clinton.
And I'm featured in the regular 'The Soap Box' column, talking about New Year's resolutions.

In Auckland, New Zealand

This is very much a business and pleasure trip.
I have flown out to Auckland in New Zealand (the Emirates business lounge at Gatwick is very classy, by the way) to speak at a wealth seminar and attend a friend's wedding.
More news when I come around from the jet lag!
This is the second time in 12 months for me to visit New Zealand on public speaking duties.

'Snow business!'

There's 'snow business like snow business', as a pal in the theatre reminds me.
Sorry to report that the VIP networking day (scheduled for St Mary's Church in Burry Port for tomorrow) has been postponed because of the snow.
It's still snowing here in West Wales and safety first dictates that we have to postone.
The VIP Networking Day will go ahead on April 6.
Sorry for the postponement, but I am sure you all agree that, in the circumstances, it's best we all stay safe.

On TV this evening

I will be on Welsh language TV again this evening.
The S4C (Welsh Channel 4) magazine show Heno (Tonight) will be screening a feature on the centenary of Aston Martin cars.
Those who know me, will appreciate that owning an Aston Martin was one of my life ambitions.
I am fortunate to be the proud owner of an Aston.
Reporter Patricia Lloyd-Evans came along to interview me and she was delighted to get a 'spin' in the car.
Those of you without access to S4C, can see the item on the Clic website (after broadcast) -
http://www.s4c.co.uk/clic/e_index.shtml
It goes out at 7pm tonight.

Great welcome in Derby

I had a great welcome in Derby for a public speaking engagement for property investors and business-people.
Many had travelled from other parts of the Midlands to attend.
We raised nearly £2,000 for the Make a Wish charity.
The evening was a follow-up to an earlier public speaking date in Nottingham.
Grateful thanks to all concerned for a memorable evening.

Speaking in Derby this evening

Speaking engagement this evening. Talking to Derby Property Network about setting up high profit businesses.

My views on 2013

I was asked by the South Wales Evening Post to give my views on 2013.
Here is what I said to the biggest selling newspaper in Wales - 
Kevin Green, Burry-Port-based multi-millionaire and star of TV’s Secret Millionaire, said –
“Universal Credit' is said by Government to become law from October 1 next year. This will have a major negative impact on the private rented sector as all benefit money will be paid directly to tenants and all grouped together in one lump through the Department of Work and Pensions.
“It will be a major headache for landlords as some tenants have no idea how to budget. They will even be responsible for paying a percentage of council tax, even though their benefit allowance is being cut. Potentially, this could lead to mass evictions as tenants fail to pay landlords the rent.
“The end result will be very costly to Government ultimately as they are obliged to cover the cost of emergency housing for evicted tenants. Many landlords may go bust as a result. It is a worry for landlords and I suspect many will make the decision not to rent at all to housing benefit tenants.
“Interest rates look set to remain relatively low. I predict no more than half a per cent rise next year.
“New business start-ups are still viable if we can actually get the banks to fund, which is a whole other problem for people who are not already showing high profits.
“In our case, we plan to take advantage of low borrowing rates and expand our business by purchasing more rental properties while house prices remain relatively low and rental yields are 10 per cent or higher.
“We will take on more staff. It is easy to source good people in Wales as there many are looking for jobs. It’s not great for the ‘macro’ economy, but good for businesses like ours.
“We will continue to help others into new business start ups or grow their existing structures as I really love the business coaching side of our business.
“I am to continue with my charity work focussing more on homeless people next year by working for the first time with Shelter and other housing charities like The Wallich.
“I will also be focussing on the new Entrepreneurship Academy Wales students - to ensure the flagship Welsh Government project achieves the its target of all students having set up profitable businesses by end of their year BTec course."
Kevin Green, 49 is a self-made multi-millionaire and social entrepreneur. He is one of the UK’s largest residential property landlords and a multi-business owner, with business interests as diverse as soil removal and software development. His current net worth is estimated to be £38 million.
http://www.kevingreen.co.uk

A very Happy New year to you all

A very Happy New year to you all from

Kevin