Richard Abrahams

Mental Health Speaker, Sales Trainer and Motivator.

From an early age at 7 years old, I brought the house down with my impressions of the rugby commentator, Eddie Waring, in the primary school play.

Throughout my school years, I entered speech and drama festivals, public speaking competitions and Guildhall examinations. Representing my local comprehensive school in Leeds, I competed against 18,000 candidates and won the National Schools Public Speaking Competition.

Entertaining at school events impersonating the teachers, birthdays, weddings, golf club and charity events, I am frequently asked to be MC and speaker; my poetry and speech writing relaxes me and takes me away from running the business, and with my amusing stories, comedy and impressions, I love the stage, a microphone and most importantly, making people laugh!

For over 30 years, I have led our successful family home improvements business, Elmhurst - what better way to see the world than as a double-glazing salesman! I have perfected a sales presentation to help direct salespeople in my business and in others and my “Confessions of a Double-Glazing Salesman” is great material for corporate events.

I use my presentation skills in the business as our social media and website features videos presented by me, interviewing our happy customers who can show off their latest orangeries and windows and doors. I have presented on community radio, fronting a programme called “Mind your Business” and have started a monthly podcast entitled “Love your Home” talking to local entrepreneurs about their home and business challenges. I have also featured on BBC Radio Leeds as an advocate for customer service.

I received an outstanding achievement award in 2020, and was invited to speak at our industry glazing summit in front of 500 CEOs about the challenges of men’s mental health after my own experiences and received very positive feedback from the delegates. I hope to be able to help many more people both within the business world and beyond.