Simmy Dhillon

Founder @ Simmer 🍲🧡 │ +1 Million Meals Sold │ Forbes 30u30 │ Ex-Google 🧑🏽‍💻 │ Featured in Business Insider, The Times, BBC & CNBC 🌍 │ Delivering Delicious Dishes to the UK’s Time, Taste & Health Conscious 👨🏽‍🍳🍲

Founder

What a night!! 🏆🏆

There are over 4 million entrepreneurs in the UK.
From side hustlers to unicorn founders.

The GBEA shortlisted 1,000 of the very best.

All gathered at a fancy London hotel.

And from those 1,000…

I was selected as the Overall Great British Entrepreneur of the Year! 🥇🤯

Growing up, I never saw myself here.

My parents worked in factories and supermarkets.
And I started Simmer from my uni kitchen with £10. 

But here we are.

Recognition like this opens doors.

Not just for me.

But for those who grew up like me. 
Who feel like they don't belong.

It proves entrepreneurship can be meritocratic.

And I'm going to use this platform…

To inspire others to dream beyond their circumstances 💪🏽

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🧡 Follow me, Simmy, for daily motivation, inspiration and insight, as I scale the UK’s fastest growing food business.

Founder @ Simmer 🍲🧡 │ +10 Million Meals Sold │ The Sunday Times Young Founder of the Year │ Forbes 30u30 │ Ex-Google 🧑🏽‍💻 │ Delivering Delicious Dishes to the UK’s Time, Taste & Health Conscious 👨🏽‍🍳🍲

I can't believe it... another one?! 😳🏆🏆

This week, I won EY Entrepreneur of the Year for the South region. 

EY is one of the largest firms in the world.

And their EOY programme is one of the highest honours in entrepreneurship globally - having run for almost 40 years, and spanning over 50 countries.  

The bar is exceptionally high.

And to be honest, places like this felt untouchable growing up. 

Mum worked at Tesco. 
Dad worked in a factory. 

People like me didn’t get into rooms like this.

But I refused to accept that as my ceiling.

Why can't I start at 19?
Why can't I build something world-class? 
Why can't I compete at the highest level? 

I always believed I could. 

Because here's what I realised: 

Most limitations are self-imposed.

Society loves to tell you what's "realistic" or "good enough", depending on where you start in life.

But wherever you come from... 

Don't accept that. 
Don't settle for good. 

Push boundaries, go for great 💪🏽🏆

And never forget where you come from - I love taking Mum & Dad to these fancy award evenings with me 🥰🧡

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We've just moved into our dream office! 🤯

For the last 8 years, I've run Simmer remotely. 

And don't get me wrong... 
I'm a big advocate for remote work. 

(Especially when you have a lean team)

🚀 We've become 5th fastest-growing business in the UK
🚀 And Europe’s fastest-growing food biz

... all whilst working remotely. 

From my uni kitchen 
To my childhood bedroom 
To sitting around my flat share kitchen table. 

But Simmer is entering a new phase of growth. 

We're doubling down to build a generational brand and create a product that is even more exceptional 🔥🍲

And that means we need a base where we can:

→ Collaborate face-to-face on a daily basis
→ Build a culture you can’t replicate remotely 
→ Attract world-class talent

After searching far and wide (office hunting in London isn't for the faint-hearted)... 

We finally found a space we can call home 🧡🏡

If you're London-based, and want to join a rocketship, drop me a message - tell me why Simmer needs you! ✉️

And follow me Simmy for behind the scenes as we build Simmer into a generational brand from our new HQ 🤝🏽

When I was 21, I told HR I was struggling.

By day, I was an intern at an investment bank. 

By night, I was: 

😮‍💨 Sleeping on a friends' kitchen floor. 
😮‍💨 Saving every penny towards my side hustle (Simmer). 
😮‍💨 And going home at the weekend to be my Dad's carer. 

The response from HR? 
💬 "No one else is struggling"

I thought: 
💬 "Maybe I'm just not cut out for this" 🤔

But looking around, I realised something important. 

Most other interns were from wealthy backgrounds. 

✅ With trust funds. 
✅ With well-connected parents.
✅ With a safety net to cover bills and fall back on. 

❌ They didn't have to look after their parents. 
❌ They didn't have to juggle multiple jobs. 
❌ They didn't have to send money home. 

It was a harsh lesson in privilege and perception. 

No one could see my struggles. 

🤷‍♂️ Because they were invisible. 
🤷‍♂️ Because they didn't look like theirs.

Fast forward to today... 

Those same interns who "weren't struggling" then... 

Now DM me:

"Bro, how did you start such a successful business?!" 😅

→ No one cared about the struggle.
→ No one noticed the sacrifices.
→ No one saw the process.

... they just wanted the outcome. 

My point is this: 

The playing field might not be level.

But your willingness to sacrifice and work hard can outweigh any head start 💪

I was willing to suffer for a future I believed in. 

And if you're willing to do the same... 

I promise - even without privilege, even without connection, you can build something special, too 🧡

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Simmer

Tayo Ajibade

Our Christmas party was at 2PM on Friday.

Not a boozy night out.
Instead - the middle of the workday.

Not only do late-night parties eat into the team's personal time...

But the pressure, the hangover, the anxiety 😮‍💨

So, what did we do instead?

A festive lunch, secret santa, games and a whole lotta laughs.

Some of the team stayed out later.
Others headed home to their families.

There was no pressure either way.

Here's why daytime Christmas parties make sense:

👉🏽 Parents can attend without childcare stress.
👉🏽 Non-drinkers don't feel awkward or pressured.
👉🏽 Everyone's fresh and energised to connect.
👉🏽 Those that live further can travel in and out.

The night owls can still party on.

The early birds can head home guilt-free.

A win-win for all!

My message to employers is this:

Stop defaulting to drinking culture.
Start normalising daytime celebrations.

Who else thinks it's time for change? 🤔

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🧡 Follow me, Simmy, for daily motivation and insight, as I scale the UK’s fastest growing food business Simmer

A gentle reminder for December:

Some will be excited for the Christmas parties 🥳🍾
Others might feel anxious about the pressure to drink.

Don't be the person that makes them feel awkward!

There are plenty of reasons to not drink alcohol:

Religion
Workload
Hangovers
Mental Health
Physical Health

… to name a few.

People don't owe an explanation for not drinking.

“No thanks” is a full sentence 🙏🏽🧡

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Growing up, Dad worked overtime just so that we could watch one football match a year. 

Now... 

Brands invite me to sports events every month! 

And obviously, I ALWAYS take Dad 😌

He used to play rugby at school.
But in 50+ years, he'd never been to a proper match.

On Saturday, we watched our first-ever.

🏉 England vs New Zealand 
🔥 Witnessed the legendary Haka up close
🏆 Saw history (England's 9th win in 100+ years)

In a hospitality box at Twickenham 😳

When we were little, one game a year was a luxury.

Dad would do extra shifts at the factory.
Just so we could afford the tickets and travel.

Now brands invite us for free.
Multiple times a year.

And I'll never take it for granted.

Big thanks to S&W Terry Shephard for the invite 🙏🏽

Me, Dad and Will who recently joined the Simmer team - had an unreal time 🙌🏽

And to any brands reading this:

Just know that if you invite me to a bucket list event like this, I'll always ask for plus ones 😉

Because what's the point of "success"... 

If you can't bring those who've supported you along for the ride? 🧡

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Growing up, when mum was cooking dinner, I'd race around the house closing all the doors. 

Why? 

I was terrified my school uniform would smell of curry.

→ I'd spray extra deodorant on my blazer
→ Check my bag for lingering smells
→ Feel embarrassed when friends came over
→ Wish Mum would cook "normal" food
→ Distance myself from anything too "ethnic"

I saw my culture as something to hide.

That suppressing it would help me fit in.

Fast forward to today...

The irony isn't lost on me.

I spent years ashamed of my roots.

When in reality, my culture is WHY we've succeeded:

💪🏽 The immigrant work-ethic that never quits
💪🏽 The resourcefulness that finds a way
💪🏽 The pride in doing things properly
💪🏽 The understanding that food = love & community

Two working-class brown kids from Hitchin.

Building the UK's fastest-growing food business 😌

So, for every kid embarrassed by their roots...
Or simply closing doors when their parents cook...

Take it from me:

Your culture isn't something to overcome.

It's something to lean into 🧡

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And follow me, Simmy as I scale Simmer into a generational brand 

PS. This pic is pre-rebrand, when we were called RNS Meals! Crazy to think we’ve been in business for almost 9 years 🤯

Working-class kids are told a lot of lies about money. 

And it keeps us trapped in generational issues.

Here are 3 pieces of advice I’m glad I ignored:

1️⃣ “Just get a stable job with good benefits.”

It sounds safe. Respectable. Secure.

Until the company you gave years to lays you off with a cookie-cutter email. 

The real “stability”? 

Building something that can’t be taken away. 

A skill. 
A network. 
A business.

______

2️⃣ “You need money to make money.”

This belief stops so many people before they start.

You don’t need a trust fund. 
You need resourcefulness.

Start small, test cheaply and scale gradually. 

I began with £10 worth of ingredients. Now served +10 million meals nationwide.

______

3️⃣ “Rich people spend a lot of money.”

The moment I could afford nice things, I realised: 

Many chase status symbols to impress others. 
Not because it brings them joy. 

True wealth isn't a fancy watch or car. 

It's the freedom to choose how you spend your time.

______

When you grow up broke, you think:

“If I just had money…” 
“If I just met the right person…” 
“If I just got the right job…”

But the biggest shift? 

It's none of that.

It your mindset. 

Agreed? What’s one money lie you had to unlearn?

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