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Richard Harpin
British entrepreneur, investor, and author (born 1964) From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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Richard David Harpin (born 10 September 1964) is a British entrepreneur, investor, and author. He founded HomeServe in 1993 and served as its Chief Executive until 2023.[2]
Harpin is also founder of the investment fund Growth Partner and owns Business Leader, a peer-to-peer community for entrepreneurs in the UK. In 2024, The Sunday Times Rich List estimated his family net worth at £670 million. In July 2025, he published How to Make a Billion in 9 Steps which debuted in its first week as a Sunday Times bestseller.
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Early life and education
Harpin was born in Huddersfield, West Yorkshire, and grew up in Northumberland.[2][3] His father was a civil servant, and his mother was an occupational therapist.[4] His paternal great-grandparents owned and operated a wool recycling mill.[2]
Harpin attended the Royal Grammar School in Newcastle and later graduated from the University of York with a bachelor's degree in economics.[5] As a student, he sold conkers to classmates and operated a mail-order business for fishing tackle and earrings.[2][3] At York, he launched a student magazine, Connect.[3]
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Career
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Harpin joined Procter & Gamble in 1986 and served as a brand manager for Vortex bleach and Fairy liquid.[3][4] He worked at Procter & Gamble until 1990 before joining Deloitte as a management consultant.[2]
HomeServe
While managing a portfolio of rental properties for a colleague, Harpin established a letting agency.[3] This experience led to the development of the business concept for HomeServe.[3] In 1993, Harpin co-founded HomeServe as a joint venture with South Staffordshire Water, which provided an initial £500,000 in capital.[2][6] The company offered subscription-based home emergency repair services.[3] Under his tenure, Harpin expanded HomeServe into a multinational company operating in the UK, US, France, Spain, and Japan.[2][3] In 2004, HomeServe demerged from South Staffs Water and was listed on the London Stock Exchange and later became part of the FTSE 100 Index.[2][3] In 2017, HomeServe acquired the tradespeople directory Checkatrade.[3]
In 2022, Harpin agreed to the sale of HomeServe to Brookfield Asset Management for £4.1 billion.[3] The transaction was completed in early 2023.[2] Harpin held a 7.4% stake and his wife, Kate, held a 4.8% stake which was valued at £490 million.[3] Following the acquisition, Harpin became Chairman of HomeServe's operations in Europe, the Middle East, and Africa. In January 2025, Harpin stepped down as Chairman of HomeServe.[7]
Growth Partner and Business Leader
In 2015, Harpin launched Growth Partner, a private investment fund focused on founder-led consumer businesses. He has committed over £150 million to the fund. The fund has invested in companies such as Passenger Clothing, Stubble & Co, Easy Bathrooms, Gozney, Secret Food Tours, Flooring Superstore, Acai, Wave, Host & Stay,[8] and Additional Lengths.[2]
In 2023, Harpin acquired Business Leader, a UK magazine and events platform.[9][10] During his ownership, Business Leader has expanded its focus to peer-to-peer networks, coaching and insight to help entrepreneurs grow their businesses.[9] He hosts weekly growth workshops for entrepreneurs at his London home.[2][11]
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Writing
Harpin has authored business columns for The Sunday Times,[12] Mail,[13] City A.M.,[14] and The Yorkshire Post.[15] In 2025, Harpin published the book How to Make a Billion in Nine Steps, which became a Sunday Times bestseller.[2][10]
Philanthropy
In 2009, Harpin founded The Enterprise Trust, a charity that promotes youth entrepreneurship and apprenticeships.[16][17][11] The trust funds enterprise programmes and works closely with Young Enterprise, The Careers and Enterprise Company, the Scouts, and The Duke of Edinburgh's Award. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the trust donated a £60,000 aid package to homelessness charities in the West Midlands.[18]
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Personal life
Harpin was previously married to Kate Harpin, and they have three children.[19] In 2013, Harpin bought their village pub, The Alice Hawthorn Inn in Nun Monkton, to prevent its closure. It won Yorkshire Life magazine's Dining Pub of the Year award in 2017.[20] They also helped revive the Nun Monkton Ferryboat across the River Ouse in 2017 which had been closed since 1952.[21]
Harpin is a lifelong Newcastle United fan.[2] He was a political donor to the Conservative Party.[7]
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Awards and recognition
Harpin was named Ernst & Young UK Entrepreneur of the Year in 2008.[22] In 2011, he served as chairman of the judging panel for the same award.[22] He has been included on The Sunday Times Rich List, with an estimated family net worth of £670 million.[10][23]
References
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