Joe Blackman MBE is a serial entrepreneur and investor who spends his time between the US and UK working on several startup ventures and investments. His specific interests are in the events, hospitality, creative and technology sectors.

Joe also runs a consultancy business, providing executive mentoring and growth advisory services to entrepreneurs. He has specific interests in international trade and leveraging UK/US/Middle East relations.

He relocated to Texas in 2020 to maximize the huge opportunities for business within the state. He previously was based in Dallas and now lives in Austin.

In 2022 he was awarded one of the UK’s highest national honors on advice of Prime Minister Boris Johnson, and was made an MBE (Member of the Order of the British Empire) by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II for services to the Economy and Charity.

Medal Investiture at Windsor Castle by King Charles II

In recognition of Joe’s business successes in the United States, he was given Texas’ highest state honor of being made an Honorary Texan by Governor Abbott and made an Colonel and Aide de Camp to Governor Beshear in Kentucky.

UK Director of the Year

Blackman was made Institute of Directors, Young Director of the Year.

Joe was the only individual in the events, entertainment and creative industries sector that was recognised.

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One of the top rising star entrepreneurs of the 21st Century
— Business Insider Magazine
Joe Blackman // Sky News

Joe Blackman // Sky News

The making of an entrepreneur

From humble roots to a multimillion pound business...

Blackman did not grow up in the circles he moves in today. Raised by a hard-working single mother, Joe’s cost-conscious business ethic is rooted in a childhood living on the outskirts of Cardiff, the Welsh capital.

During family visits, while his cousins and siblings kicked a ball in the backyard, Joe set up a play office on the floor of his uncle’s business. With a cardboard box desk and an unplugged telephone, Joe spent hours imagining himself running his own business empire. As anyone at the top of their game will tell you, visualisation is key to achieving your goals.

As soon as Joe was old enough, he set up enterprises washing cars, painting neighbours oil tanks, selling handmade greeting cards and polishing antiques.

One of young Joe's less enjoyed business ventures was painting neighbours oil tanks for £2.50, washing cars and polishing antiques was much more profitable!

One of young Joe's less enjoyed business ventures was painting neighbours oil tanks for £2.50, washing cars and polishing antiques was much more profitable!

Joe in the red and white shorts supervising his first party event (while enjoying a drink).

Joe in the red and white shorts supervising his first party event (while enjoying a drink).

I always had a massive thirst for knowledge, and a belief that I could achieve anything I wanted with the right energy, drive and determination.
That belief holds true today.
— Joe Blackman
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The early years

A lack of babysitters meant helping Mum at work was par for the course. What they didn’t know was this was Blackman’s first steps towards his first business. Her job meant he spent a lot of time hanging out at St Donats Art Centre when he was a teenager. When his mum got involved in working on a storytelling festival, he needed something to do.

Selling fresh juice to festival goers seemed like a good way to keep him safely occupied. Unlike most teenage boys, Joe didn’t whine about it, instead he leapt at the chance to show what he could do. He expanded his operation each year turning the fruit juice stall into a profitable enterprise!

Freshly squeezed orange juice and watermelons, anyone? Joe with long hair on the left!

Freshly squeezed orange juice and watermelons, anyone? Joe with long hair on the left!

By the time he was 18 and finishing his school exams, he worked his way up the ranks to be the festival’s event manager as well as the Arts Centre’s own technical manager after taking a great interest in lighting and sound production. A mentor and friend, who lectured at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Art in Cardiff, suggested he apply for their BA in Stage Management so, with years of experience already under his belt, Joe went to university.

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To university, and beyond!

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For most young people, a part-time bar job is all they can fit in around their studies. Joe not only kept his technical role at the Art Centre, but he also took on contracts with major local nightclubs and entertainment venues in and around Cardiff, such as the Millennium Stadium and International Arena.

He developed his budding taste for event management as Vice President of the Student Union by setting up an SU ball like none they’d seen before. An impressive affair set against the backdrop of Cardiff Castle, Joe sold advertising for the event around Cardiff. Joe was responsible for operating the SU companies, and his eye for business also led to buying back the SU bar franchise as well making commercial investments on the Union’s behalf.

First Businesses

Still only 19, an enterprising young Joe was gaining levels of experience that people years older would envy. Recognising the value of diversification, he set up a couple of creative sidelines. One involved selling fine art pieces to some of Cardiff’s top restaurants. They carried hefty price tags and delivered fantastic returns for Joe and his friend. 

Another venture called "Bespoke Beds" led to a lucrative commission supplying bespoke beds to the Big Brother house at the peak of its popularity, and helping Blackman develop yet more useful contacts.

 

The journey into events

A lot of event management is about who you know and through his freelancing and business ventures word soon spread about the young Welsh lad with a knack for making things happen. Joe was soon involved in large-scale events outside the university such as Party in the Park and the Tsunami aid concert. But through it all he kept up with his studies.

Achieving anything is possible with the right passion, ethics, drive and determination.
— Joe Blackman
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And then came one of those blink and you’ll miss it opportunities. Only halfway through his degree, he was offered the chance to join the Olympic team running the Asian Games in Qatar. Someone had dropped out and the organisers needed a replacement quickly.

It was a no-brainer. Joe left his digs and spent the next six months living on a cruise ship off the coast while coordinating every aspect of the Games’ aquatic events from stage management to timings.

While he was there a chance encounter with the Qatari royal family led to a long-lasting friendship and the prestigious opportunity to plan a royal wedding some years later under the guise of his event planning company, Collection 26.

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Collection 26

"Planning the most spectacular events we have seen"  Vogue

 

Collection 26

From its incorporation in 2005 until its 2017 sale, Collection 26 grew into one of the world’s leading event planning companies under Joe’s direction.

From footballers to musicians, and hedge fund managers to royalty Blackman’s company has created opulent weddings and extravagant parties that his childhood self could only dream of.

After growing the business for 13 years, he finally sold the company pre-covid in a private sale in 2018 for an undisclosed sum to focus on other ventures


A few of Collection 26's memorable events

 
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CORPORATE

Starbucks

International Olympic Committee

American Express

Virgin

The Football Association

Universal

Christian Louboutin

Enterprise Rent-A-Car

UBS

LinkedIn

Rightmove

Africa Oye Festival

Barclays Wealth

Hiscox Insurance

Royal Bank of Scotland

The Port of Felixstowe

Coutts

Go Compare

Dairy Crest

Costain

Marks & Spencer

PRIVATE

50 Cent

The Killers

Ed Sheeran

Theo Walcott (England, Arsenal)

Aaron Ramsey (Wales, Arsenal)

Nick Robertson - Founder and CEO, ASOS

Nick McCabe - President and CEO, Hakkasan

Peter Coates - Founder of Bet 365 / Stoke FC

Phil Burks - Founder, Big Yellow Storage Company

Rattan Chadha - Citizen M Hotels / MEXX

Melissa Magnasun - Magnasun Worldwide Hotels

The Candy Brothers

 

HE The Ambassador of Equatorial Guinea

HE The Ambassador of Uzbekistan

 

 

 

 

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ROYALTY

Abu Dhabi Royal Family

Saudi Royal Family

UK Royal Family

Monaco Royal Family