27. Gaming Raves, TEDx License Hustle, Council Estate to CEO - Simran Whitham

In this episode of Greater Manchester’s Greatest Minds, we meet Simran Whitham—founder of Format Group, gaming event trailblazer, and proud council estate kid turned creative entrepreneur.

Simran’s story takes us from Barlow Road in Tameside to packing out warehouse raves with Sony, Ubisoft, and EA—and becoming the first person in the UK games industry to secure a TEDx license.

From being rejected by colleges to building his own events empire, Simran opens up about discovering the truth behind the games industry, launching grassroots events from nothing, and why he refuses to stop innovating.

Whether it’s designing energy drinks, fashion lines, or full-blown festivals, Simran is rewriting what a creative business can look like—with passion, purpose, and a lot of grit.

 

🎟️ Events:

TEDxNorthern Quarter- https://www.tedxnorthernquarter.com/

Format Festival (Liverpool)—Oct 30 - https://format.gg/