About Us

Message from the Founder

The Key Club's message is simple; knowing the right people at any stage in your career can really help make it happen, that's why we are creating the ultimate global alumni.

We're bringing together recognised future leaders of over 21 industries, spanning all aspects of business; fashion; art; music; sport; the public and third sectors. Combining our Intelligent Relationship matching software and uniquely formatted exclusive events, our members experience a revolutionary approach to building an influential network of other top talent, enabling them to build cross-industry, and hopefully career long, relationships.

The Key Club's Business Friend programme will transform youth mentoring, creating an intergenerational exchange of knowledge, experience and ideas. Together, our members and Founding Mentors, with the support of the organisations they represent, will help Rising Stars, aged 16-24, get into their industries. The annual plan formatted programme will develop core skills and offer each Rising Star relevant work experience within a unique cross-industry network of organisations, all of which have opened their doors to help "Make It Happen".

Nicola Hain – Founder

Who's already supporting The Key Club?

Global organisations, SME's and entrepreneurs
Current leaders of over 21 industries
UK Government
Business in the Community
Chartered Management Institute
London Development Agency

The Key Club – Creating the ultimate global alumni

The Key Club's message is simple; knowing the right people at any stage in your career can really help make it happen, that's why we are creating the ultimate global alumni.

Exclusive network
The Key Club provides future leaders with access to a network of influential contemporaries, nominated future leaders of corporate organisations and those who are award winners or recognised as key influencers in their industry. Members represent 21 industries spanning all aspects of business, fashion, art, music, sport, the public and third sectors.
Unique events
The Key Club's uniquely formatted exclusive members-only events enable members to experience a new approach to networking.
Matching
Using Intelligent Relationship software to match members ahead of events ensures our members have the opportunity to meet other top talent in a targeted way.
www.thekeyclubinternational.com
Members have access to an online community to manage their bespoke contacts made through The Key Club's events and will connect talent globally.
Mentoring
The Key Club's Business Friend programme – an opt in mentoring programme which unites three generations to help “Make It Happen” for Rising Stars.
Global Expansion
To connect talent around the globe, during 2011 The Key Club will launch in new markets - those already being developed for the end of this year are Shanghai, New York, Dubai, Hong Kong and Paris.
Leadership and Business Education
From May 2011, an e-learning leadership education programme developed in association with The Key Club's world leading mentors and accredited by a leading International business school.

The Team - Who created The Key Club?

Nicola Hain – Founder of The Key Club International

Prime Minister, Gordon Brown, recognised Nicola as one of 24 leading women in business on International Women's Day in 2010.
Youngest senior executive to be appointed to Ernst & Young's Accelerated Leadership Programme in 2008. Nicola has unique insight into how future leaders are being developed globally.
Nicola has been running young professional events in the City for 5 years, attended by over 1000 people, demonstrating the need for talent to be introduced across industries and face to face.

Press

To receive information on The Key Club's recent press articles, including the CNBC live interview on Strictly Money and Directors Magazine interview with our Founder, please Contact Us.

The Key Club's Business Friend Programme – Revolutionising Youth Mentoring

By uniting three generations through our mentoring programme, we enable two generations of leaders in our network of membership organisations to help develop Rising Stars aged 16-24. The Key Club's Business Friend programme gives Rising Stars access to role models and work experience in the industries they want to get into.

For further information about The Key Club's Business Friend programme, please Contact Us.

Delivered through an annual plan formatted 12 month programme
Brings together three generations through the "Make It Happen Challenge"
- Generation 1 -Rising Stars, aged 16-24, will set the "Make It Happen Challenge"
- Generation 2 -The Key Club's members will become Business Friends to the Rising Stars, matched depending on the industry which the challenge relates to
- Generation 3 -The Key Club's members will be mentored by current board level executives, in a complimentary industry, to help make it happen
After graduating through the programme, Rising Stars join The Key Club Alumni

Our members become a Business Friend to a Rising Star wanting to get into their industry becoming their role model.

Board level executives, CEO's/Chairman complete the team, uniting three generations and providing a guiding hand of experience as Mentors to our members.

Mentors commit to four meetings a year, one every quarter. This enables current leaders to pass on their invaluable industry insight and experience in a time effective way.

Working together our Members and Mentors will develop an annual plan, set 3 month short term objectives and provide access to work experience within their own organisations, and more broadly through The Key Club's network of Membership Organisations, for their Rising Star.

At the end of the 12 month programme, each Rising Star will join The Key Club's alumni with access to an online community enabling them to keep connected to The Key Club.

Founding Mentors of The Key Club

Our Founding Mentors are helping to pioneer The Key Club's Business Friend programme, uniting three generations to help make it happen for Rising Stars aged 16-24.

To express your interest in becoming a Founding Mentor, please contact our Founder, Nicola Hain at nicolahain@thekeyclublondon.com or Contact Us.

Our Founding Mentors include:

Alison Carnwath – Chairman, Land Securities
Amanda Rudin – Country Head UK, Fashion TV
Andrew Bloch - Founder of Frank PR
Andrew Grant – Chair, Headmasters’ & Headmistress’ Conference
Andrew Haigh – Managing Partner, Entrepreneurs Client Group, Coutts Bank
Sir Anthony Cleaver – Former Chairman of IBM
Ashley Highfield – Managing Director & VP, Consumer & Online, Microsoft
Colonel Ben Farrell - Commanding Officer, Irish Guards
Ben Lewis – CEO, Lewis Trust Group (River Island)
Bill Muirhead – Founding Director, M&C Saatchi
Brent Hoberman – Co-Founder, Lastminute.com, MyDeco and Profounders
Charley Boorman – TV Presenter and Adventurer, Long Way Down
Commodore Chris Gardner - Head, Capability Improvement, Royal Navy
Daniel Ritterband – Director of Marketing, Mayor of London
David Metcalfe – Chief Operating Office, Lloyds TSB Scotland
David Richards – Chairman and Founder, Prodrive and Chairman, Aston Martin
Denys Shortt – Founder, DCS Europe and Enable Software
Dharmash Mistry – Partner, Balderton Capital
Diane Herbert – Director of Human Resources, Channel 4
Emma Fitzgerald - VP, Downstream Strategy & Consultancy, Shell
Eric Nicoli – Chairman, R&R Music and Chairman, Vue Cinemas
Gavin Patterson – CEO, BT Retail
Geoff Munday – CFO, Selex Galileo
Jason Leonard – Former England Rugby Captain
Jeremy Middleton – Deputy Chairman, The Conservative Party and Entrepreneur
John Jenkins - CEO, GE Capital
John Pluthero – Chairman, Cable & Wireless Worldwide
John Wickham – Director, MTI Network
Johnny Roxburgh & Rolline Frewen – Co-Founders, The Admirable Crichton
Josh Berger – President, Warner Bros. Entertainment
Kate Swann – CEO, WH Smith
Marcus Wareing - Michelin Star Chef and Entrepreneur
Michelle Feeney – CEO, St Tropez
Mike Wilson - Chairman, St James’ Place Wealth
Natalie Ceeny – CEO, Financial Ombudsman
Nick Badman – Chairman, Centre for Entrepreneurship, CASS Business School
Peter Ward – CEO, British Dental Association
Richard Harpin – CEO and Founder, HomeServe plc
Simon Ward & Caroline Rush – COO and Chief Executive, British Fashion Council
Steve Auckland – Managing Director, Metro, Associated Newspapers
Stephen Tetlow – CEO, Institute of Mechanical Engineers
Tony Bourne – CEO, British Medical Association
Wanda Kim – Head of Environmental Advisory Group, UBS
Wendy O’Meara – Managing Director, The Spatial Group

The Key Club Foundation

Supporting The Key Club Foundation provides an opportunity for organisations to incorporate sponsorship of membership for top talent outside of their own organisations, and of The Key Club's Business Friend programme, into their CSR agenda.

For further information on how you can support the launch of The Key Club Foundation, please Contact Us.

Established with the support of Founding Partner organisations to:

Offer a pool of sponsored memberships
- Beneficiaries to include, but not limited to, entrepreneurs, fashion designers, musicians, artists, sports men & women and third sector organisations
Fund the administration of the Business Friend programme and its global development
Fund the Business Friend Award Ceremony – Celebration of Talent
- To celebrate outstanding achievements of Rising Stars graduating through the Business Friend programme