A keynote speaker is the main presenter at a conference, seminar, or business event who sets the tone and delivers the central message of the day. Their role goes beyond simply giving a talk; a keynote speaker inspires, educates, and energises the audience while tying the event’s theme together. In business settings, a professional keynote speaker brings fresh insights, practical strategies, and motivational stories that help teams and organisations think differently and take action. Choosing the right keynote speaker ensures your event has impact, leaves a lasting impression, and creates real value for attendees.

A keynote speaker delivers the main presentation at a conference, seminar, or corporate event. Their job is to set the tone, capture attention, and bring the central theme of the day to life. A professional keynote speaker does more than share information. They inspire, challenge, and motivate the audience to think differently and take action.

They use storytelling, real-world examples, and practical strategies to connect with the audience and make the event memorable. A strong keynote speaker ensures the message is clear, the energy is high, and the audience leaves with ideas they can apply in their business or personal life.

A keynote speaker is the main presenter at an event, chosen to set the theme, capture attention, and deliver the central message. Their role is to inspire, energise, and align the audience with the purpose of the conference or meeting. A keynote speech usually opens or closes an event and is designed to leave a lasting impact.

A guest speaker, on the other hand, is invited to share their knowledge or experience on a specific subject. While they bring valuable insights, their role is typically narrower and not focused on shaping the overall direction of the event. Guest speakers may present alongside others, whereas the keynote speaker is positioned as the headline act.

If you want your event to have focus, energy, and a strong unifying message, hiring a professional keynote speaker is the best choice.

Introducing a keynote speaker is about setting the stage and building excitement before they begin. A strong introduction should:

Welcome the audience and explain why the keynote session matters.

Highlight the speaker’s credibility by mentioning key achievements, experience, or expertise relevant to the audience.

Add a personal touch by sharing an interesting fact, story, or reason they were chosen for the event.

Keep it concise. The spotlight belongs to the keynote speaker, not the host.

Finish with energy by inviting the audience to warmly welcome the speaker by name.

Done well, the introduction creates anticipation and positions the keynote speaker as the authority who will inspire and guide the audience..

It really depends who you’re booking and what you need, but here’s a simple breakdown you can lean on:

For emerging, lesser-known keynote speakers, expect fees from around £2,000 to £5,000 for a standard 40–60 minute talk.

For solid, professional business speakers, particularly those aimed at SMEs or internal events, budgets typically sit in the £2,500 to £5,000 range.

Mid-tier, well-established names with experience, media presence or niche expertise may command anywhere between £6,000 and £25,000, depending on topic and audience size.

At the high end, where you’ve got celebrity speakers, bestselling authors or high-profile experts, fees can rise to £25,000 and well above, sometimes hitting £100,000+.

Some lesser-known or local speakers (think community or niche public speakers) might come in as low as £500 to £1,000, though they typically serve very small audiences.

What drives the cost?
A few things really matter:

Speaker’s experience, reputation and specialism

Level of customisation (tailored talk vs off-the-shelf presentation)

Travel, accommodation and logistics—especially for in-person gigs

Whether it’s in-person or virtual (virtual can sometimes be cheaper but not always)

Extra offerings like workshops, Q&A sessions, post-event coaching

In short, if you're on a tighter budget, aim for emerging professional speakers at £2–5k. If you want something more polished or to wow your audience, budget somewhere in the £6–25k bracket. And if you're after headline-turning names, be prepared for much higher fees and start planning early.