Professor Graham Shapiro Named Entrepreneur of the Year 2026 at International Brilliance Awards
GSD® Founder Celebrates Triple Win Including Gold for Reggie® Fire Drill and Silver for Graham Shapiro Design (GSD®) Best UK Business
London, January 2026 – Professor Graham Shapiro, has been named Entrepreneur of the Year 2026 at the prestigious International Brilliance Awards, held at the Millennium Gloucester Hotel, London on 22nd January 2026.
Now in its 12th year, the International Brilliance Awards celebrate outstanding achievements, innovation, and excellence across the global business landscape. The programme brings together the brightest organisations and professionals from around the world to honour those setting new standards in performance, creativity, and leadership.
The Entrepreneur of the Year win was part of a remarkable triple success for Professor Shapiro and GSD at this year’s awards. The consultancy also received a Gold Award for Best New Product/Service Launch (Digital Product) recognising Reggie® Fire Drill, the world’s first GPS-based fire safety application, alongside a Silver Award for Graham Shapiro Design – Best UK Business of the Year.
Reggie® Fire Drill has been backed by the National Fire Chief Chair Phil Garrigan OBE and is now deployed with leading luxury automotive brands including Bentley, Rolls Royce, McLaren and Bugatti.
About the International Brilliance Awards
The International Brilliance Awards are organised by BOC UK Ltd and represent one of the most respected business awards programmes globally. Entries undergo a rigorous and independent judging process conducted by an esteemed panel of international business leaders and industry experts.
The judging panel includes executives with leadership experience at organisations such as HSBC, METRO, Sanofi, L’Occitane, and White Rivers Media, alongside representatives from the Chartered Institute of Public Relations, the E-Commerce and Digital Marketing Association, and other leading professional bodies.
Judges evaluate entries across criteria including visionary leadership, ability to identify opportunities, overcoming challenges, driving significant growth, innovative strategies, financial performance, and impact on industry. The Entrepreneur of the Year Award specifically honours individuals who exemplify the qualities of a visionary entrepreneur and set the standard for excellence.
Comment from Professor Graham Shapiro
“To be named Entrepreneur of the Year at the International Brilliance Awards is an extraordinary honour. This award belongs not just to me, but to every team member, clients who believed in our vision, and every colleague who helped bring my vision and inventions to life.
To receive three awards in one evening – including the Gold for Reggie® Firedrill and the Silver for Best UK Business – is truly humbling. When we set out to create the world’s first GPS-based fire safety application, we knew it had the potential to save lives. Seeing that innovation acknowledged on an international stage, alongside recognition of GSD® as one of the UK’s leading businesses, confirms we’re on the right path.
My journey from challenging beginnings to standing here today has taught me that true entrepreneurship isn’t just about building businesses – it’s about creating something that matters. That principle drives everything we do at GSD®, and through The Graham Shapiro Foundation, we’re committed to ensuring the next generation of entrepreneurs has the support and opportunities they need to succeed.”
— Professor Graham Shapiro, Founder and CEO | Graham Shapiro Design; Chairman | Arcet Global; Inventor | Reggie® firedrill and interloopmailer®; Founder | Trustee of The Graham Shapiro Foundation | Professor of Innovation and Entrepreneurship University of Westminster | Professor in Practice, University of Dundee | Ambassador of Innovation, University of Cambridge | Freeman of the City of London.
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