British businessman From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Simon Woodroffe OBE (born 14 February 1952[1]) is a British entrepreneur and business speaker, known as the founder of YO! Sushi and YOTEL. He appeared as an investor on the first series of BBC's Dragons' Den.
Simon Woodroffe OBE | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Woodroffe in 2012 | |
| Born | 14 February 1952 Oxford, Oxfordshire, England |
| Education | Marlborough College |
| Occupation(s) | Entrepreneur, motivational speaker |
| Known for | YO! Sushi YOTEL Dragons' Den |
| Family | Patrick Woodroffe (brother) |
Woodroffe's first YO! Sushi restaurant, opened in 1997, introduced conveyor belt sushi to the UK market and included technology such as automated drink delivery systems, tableside call buttons, and self-heating plates.[2]
Woodroffe was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in 2006 for his contributions to the hospitality industry.
Woodroffe was born in Oxford to a military family; his father served as a brigadier in the British Army.[3][4] He grew up with his younger brother Patrick (born 1954) in Essex, where the family resided in a farmhouse. Woodroffe attended Marlborough College but left at age 16 with only two O-levels.[3]
After leaving school, Woodroffe started his career as a theatre stagehand.[5] In the 1960s, he became a road crew and stage designer for artists such as Rod Stewart, The Moody Blues and Jethro Tull.[5][6] Woodroffe subsequently spent several years in the television industry, initially selling rights to rock and pop concerts and later producing programs on extreme sports.[5]
Woodroffe founded YO! Sushi in 1997, financing it through extended supplier payment terms rather than traditional start-up capital.[6] Initially perceived as supported by major brands such as Honda and Sony, their contributions were later clarified as minimal sponsorship.[7]
In 2003, Woodroffe sold a controlling stake in YO! Sushi for £10 million to Primary Capital, while retaining a 22% share.[8][4] He later divested his remaining shares but maintained a 1% perpetual royalty agreement on gross sales.[4] In 2023, the brand was sold to Zensho Holdings for £494 million.[9]
Woodroffe established the YOTEL brand in 2007, introducing compact hotel rooms modeled after first-class airline cabins.[10] The chain began operations at London's Gatwick and Heathrow airports before expanding internationally. By 2016, YOTEL operated over 1,000 rooms across three countries.[10]
Through YO! Company, Woodroffe later diversified into property development with YO! Home. He also established YO! Foundation for his charitable activities.[10]
Woodroffe has supported prison reform by promoting vocational training and entrepreneurship programs for inmates.[11] He has collaborated with organizations such as Make Justice Work, which is focused on reducing reoffending rates and has publicly advocated for policies that prioritize rehabilitation and skill-building within the prison system.[12]
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