Honest answers to questions we've been asked.
Costs and budgets
Why Does One Speaker Charge £2,000 and Another £15,000?
What the extra money buys, what it doesn't, and how to tell if a higher fee is worth it.
Oly Newton
Updated October 2026
Choosing a speaker
How to Brief a Speaker So the Talk Actually Lands
The 10 things to tell your speaker so the talk lands, plus a free briefing template.
Oly Newton
Updated October 2026
Comparisons
Lived Experience Speaker or Clinical Expert: Which Should You Book?
What each does best, what the research says, and which to book for your event.
Oly Newton
Updated October 2026
Choosing a speaker
Should You Book Me? An Honest Guide to Who I'm Right (and Wrong) For
Who I'm right for, who I'm not, and what your people need in place before we book a talk.
Oly Newton
Updated October 2026
Costs and budgets
How Much Does a Motivational Speaker Cost in the UK? (2026)
UK speaker fees by tier, the hidden costs, agency or direct, and exactly what I charge.
Oly Newton
Updated October 2026
Education and INSET days
How Much Should a School Budget for an INSET Day Speaker? (2026)
Honest UK INSET speaker costs, how schools fund it, and how to make the day stick.
Oly Newton
Updated October 2026
Advice for speakers
How Do I Become a Lived Experience Speaker? (And Do What You Do?)
How I started, whether you're ready, staying safe, and making it work, from someone who's living it.
Oly Newton
Updated October 2026
Corporate wellbeing
How to Support Someone With OCD at Work (From Someone Who Has It)
What OCD really is, what managers get wrong, and the adjustments that actually help.
Oly Newton
Updated October 2026
Corporate wellbeing
Can a Mental Health Talk Trigger Staff?
The real risk isn't the talk. It's no safe messaging and no support waiting on the other side.
Oly Newton
Updated October 2026
Quick answers about booking Oly
Booking and fees
What is the fee?
£2,950 + VAT for an in-person keynote, £2,350 + VAT for an online keynote, £2,500 + VAT for an INSET session. Tailored sessions are priced on request.
What does the fee include?
One keynote, up to three student assemblies on one school day, UK travel and expenses. The three assemblies all happen in one school visit, never spread across separate days. For an INSET session, the fee covers a two-hour staff session split between a keynote and a PAUSE workshop, plus three student assemblies on a separate school day.
Which school decides?
You choose the school. If you would rather not pick, Oly will match your booking to a school that fits.
What if I need something different?
Tell Oly what you have in mind. Fireside chats, panels, event hosting and bespoke sessions are priced on request.
Why isn't my fee higher?
Because every booking already pays for three school talks. If the fee were higher, fewer organisations could book, which means fewer schools could get the assemblies.
Does Oly speak outside the UK?
Yes. Oly has spoken in the UK, Ireland, Canada and the USA. Tell us where your event is and we'll send a quote.
How do I check availability?
Send your date, venue and the school you'd like supported through the booking form. You'll get a straight answer on availability and next steps.
The talks
How long is a keynote?
45 to 60 minutes, plus Q&A. Oly stays behind for anyone who wants to talk.
What does Oly speak about?
Lived experience: mental health including OCD, ADHD, anxiety and depression, neurodiversity, resilience, and connecting before correcting.
Who are the talks for?
Corporate rooms: HR, people and wellbeing teams, CSR and social value leads, conferences. Education rooms: trust leaders, headteachers, SLT, behaviour and inclusion leads, youth sector teams and local authorities.
How do you handle sensitive topics?
Oly follows Samaritans guidelines, with clear warnings before any sensitive topic and participant safety first throughout.
Can a talk be shaped around our event?
Yes. Sessions are built around your sector, your culture and the challenge your people are facing. Oly has spoken on construction sites, in boardrooms, pit lanes, sports clubs, universities and school halls.
Schools and paying it forward
How does booking work?
Send the booking form. Oly confirms the date, talks through your audience, and arranges the school for the assemblies.
Who chooses the school?
You can choose the school, or we can match you with one. Up to three assemblies are delivered there in one visit, all on the same school day.
Does Oly deliver the school talks himself?
Yes. The assemblies are delivered by Oly, not handed to someone else.
Can we get the books into people's hands?
Yes. Connect Before You Correct for staff and parents, I Stand Connected for young people, with bulk orders available.
Still got a question?
Send your event details and the school you'd like supported. You'll get a straight answer, not a brochure.