{{Short description|British entrepreneur (born 1963)}} {{More citations needed|date=April 2024}} {{Infobox person | name = Lawrence Wosskow | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1963|07|05}} }}
'''Lawrence Wosskow''' (born 5 July 1963) is a British serial entrepreneur, mainly dealing in the dining and retail sectors.
== History ==
=== Early life === Wosskow attended Silverdale School in Sheffield, leaving in 1981 with 10 O-levels and 2 A-levels. He began working at Marks & Spencer after leaving school.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2005-10-21 |title=Lawrence Wosskow: Moto is next on the menu for the new owner of Little |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/business/analysis-and-features/lawrence-wosskow-moto-is-next-on-the-menu-for-the-new-owner-of-little-chef-5348538.html |access-date=2024-04-24 |website=The Independent |language=en}}</ref>
=== Career === Wosskow took advantage of catering in shopping centres, forming Out of Town Restaurants Group,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Tycoon Lawrence is back at Out of Town |url=http://www.thestar.co.uk/business/tycoon-lawrence-is-back-at-out-of-town-1-359723 |access-date=15 September 2016 |website=www.thestar.co.uk}}</ref> the UK's largest shopping center caterer.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Gilbert |first=Helen |date=6 August 2007 |title=Former Out of Town owner buys back business |url=https://www.thecaterer.com/articles/315357/former-out-of-town-owner-buys-back-business |access-date=15 September 2016 |work=The Caterer}}</ref> He also owned Free Spirit,<ref>{{Cite web |date=21 October 2005 |title=Lawrence Wosskow: Moto is next on the menu for the new owner of Little |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/business/analysis-and-features/lawrence-wosskow-moto-is-next-on-the-menu-for-the-new-owner-of-little-chef-5348538.html |access-date=15 September 2016 |website=Independent.co.uk |language=en-GB}}</ref> a chain of surf/outdoor retail stores; and the ice cream brands Loseley and Bradwells.
In 2005, Wosskow formed an agreement with Simon Heath to form The People's Restaurant Group, who would buy Little Chef from Permira later in that year.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Grande |first=Carlos |date=8 July 2005 |title=Permira in talks to sell half of Little Chef diners |url=https://www.ft.com/content/eff96cfe-ef44-11d9-8b10-00000e2511c8 |access-date=15 September 2016 |newspaper=Financial Times |issn=0307-1766}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Muspratt |first=Caroline |title=Little Chef close to £55m sale |date=9 July 2005 |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/2918683/Little-Chef-close-to-55m-sale.html |access-date=15 September 2016}}</ref>
In 2009, he began investing in UK commercial properties, including redeveloping Harrogate’s town centre.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.yorkshirelife.co.uk/out-about/places/harrogate_is_shopping_around_for_a_new_look_1_2020413|title=Harrogate is shopping around for a new look|website=Yorkshire Life|access-date=15 September 2016}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.harrogateadvertiser.co.uk/news/business/landmark-harrogate-buildings-sold-in-18million-deal-1-7190634|title=Landmark Harrogate buildings sold in £18million deal|website=www.harrogateadvertiser.co.uk|access-date=15 September 2016}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.on-magazine.co.uk/yorkshire/yorkshire-features/royal-baths-harrogate/|title=ROYAL BATHS Harrogate KEITH SPENCE on spa town's famous baths|date=15 July 2011|language=en-US|access-date=15 September 2016}}</ref>
Wosskow's book, ''Little Chef, the Heart of the Deal'',<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.thestar.co.uk/lifestyle/features/star-interview-from-ice-cream-and-little-chef-to-life-in-the-bahamas-with-sheffield-s-lawrence-wosskow-1-8867042|title=Star Interview: From ice cream and Little Chef to life in the Bahamas with Sheffield's Lawrence Wosskow|website=www.thestar.co.uk|language=en|access-date=27 December 2017}}</ref> was released on 28 November 2017.<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=uopctAEACAAJ|title=Little Chef: The Heart of the Deal|last=Wosskow|first=Lawrence|date=20 February 2018|publisher=Morgan James Publishing|isbn=9781683505297|language=en}}</ref>
Today, Wosskow runs a private equity company from the Bahamas, investing in tech businesses globally. Notable tech investments include: PopID, which uses face and palm outside the network to change the way we pay; Square Panda, which is changing the way children learn English throughout India; Pepper HQ, which allows customers to order and pay at the table in restaurants, bringing QuickPay to the market; Tradeshift, which is allowing companies to trade with each other more efficiently, and has joined forces with HSBC to form the world's largest trade bank; Soundtrack Your Brand, which is becoming the Spotify of music for the commercial world; Curve, which combines its customers' credit cards into one smart card; Betr, which is becoming the fastest growing sports betting app; CookUnity, which is changing the face of meals at home; Ubicquia, which is making our cities safer; Infinitio AI, bringing a safer and more secure AI to the market; and Apex AI, bringing movies to life.
Other investments include Fuel Venture Capital; Chris Sacca's Lowercarbon Capital, which invests in technologies that lower emissions, remove carbon, actively cool the planet, and save human, animal, and plant life; Wavemaker Fund; and Holt Xchange, based in Montreal, helping young tech businesses come to fruition.
==References== {{Reflist}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Wosskow, Lawrence}} Category:British chief executives Category:Leaders of organizations Category:1963 births Category:Living people Category:People educated at Silverdale School, Sheffield