David Cameron’s Eton chum Octavius floats Mind Gym for millions
FOUNDERS of a corporate training business including an Eton schoolfriend of David Cameron will share a windfall this week. Mind Gym CEO Octavius Black and his wife Joanne, the chairman, will bag a combined £24million from its Aim listing, with co-founder Sebastian Bailey netting £22million.
When we started out 18 years ago at my kitchen table, [behavioural science] was readily dismissed; now, the way businesses use behavioural science determines their success
The three will retain a 64 per cent stake in the behavioural science firm, set up in 2000 and valued at £145million.
It has worked with 62 per cent of the FTSE 100 and 59 percent of S&P 100 companies, and posted pre-tax earnings of £7.9million on £37million revenue in the year to March.
Mr Black said: “When we started out 18 years ago at my kitchen table, [behavioural science] was readily dismissed; now, the way businesses use behavioural science determines their success.
“Mind Gym’s [initial public offering] will raise our profile and help us lead the development of psychological tools to make companies more diverse, ethical, agile, productive, innovative, healthy and profitable.”
Mind Gym has 293 self-employed coaches who give 90-minute presentations to clients’ staff.
These coaches attend a five-day training course and then pass a test to become certificated.
The firm requires them to have relevant experience but does not say what qualification are needed.