“The purpose of my life is to be alive and joyful, to be present with energy and passion, to embrace and appreciate those close to me, to learn and grow and work with people, so that I can inspire and help them to live a fuller life, to love more abundantly and to make a greater difference in this world now and forever”

As founder and Principal of The British School of Etiquette, Philip’s passion for etiquette, manners, quality and service has led him from the wine hills of South Africa’s Cape to the world’s most dynamic cities in a career spanning more than 25 years.

From his early days working in prestigious hotels and owning one of South Africa’s top ten restaurants to set up The Heritage Academy with HRH Prince Charles as the patron, Philip has always believed the adage “it’s not what you do but how you do it”.

Set up in 2013, The British School of Etiquette was borne out of Philip’s desire to help people become the very best versions of themselves to achieve success in both their personal and professional lives.

Philip Sykes brings his outstanding interpersonal and motivational skills to every course he runs and effortlessly puts people at ease with his charismatic approach. It is a testament to his enthusiasm and relentless drive that the school is the only one of its kind to become accredited by CPD, Investors in People and ILM (part of City & Guilds) and is now a Centre of Training Excellence.

One of his students, Karen C, leaves this comment. "Philip is an engaging and interesting facilitator and teacher. Information interspersed with examples and stories brings the course content to life. The myth that etiquette belonged to a by-gone era, has been eradicated, and I can see how manners and etiquette are valuable in being successful and happy. I am already able to clearly see where I can make some changes. Thank you so much, Philip and the British School of Etiquette for making an impact in my life and the lives of my team."