Sir Richard Branson to receive Nobel peace award

NOBEL Peace Prize laureates gathering in Colombia this week will be honouring Sir Richard Branson with a peace award for his work in global peace building.

The annual forum, now in its 16th year, presents the Peace Summit Award each year to an artist or leader who has made contributions to peace building and human rights.

Nobel Peace Prize laureate Juan Manuel Santos said: “Richard Branson is not only an internationally admired entrepreneur but has supported and encouraged young entrepreneurs and bright thinkers in Africa and other regions of the world where they can make real change.

“Richard sets an example for our young people not only as a very successful businessman, but as one who also used that success for the good of others.”

Branson founded Virgin Unite in 2004, which is now one of the most recognised brands in the UK, and has also headed programmes which trains and mentors entrepreneurs in Africa, the Caribbean and elsewhere.