Debt for growth: funding and support for ambitious small businesses

This ‘Debt for Growth’ event is for owners and managers of smaller ambitious businesses that are generating revenues having funded your business in its early stages from personal seed investment, a Start Up Loan or business angel investment.

You may now be looking to understand the options for debt finance to provide working capital or to invest in new people and innovations or expand into new markets.

This event will bring together advisers and funders to help you identify relevant sources of potential debt funding, along with the advice and support required to access it.

Agenda for the event as follows:

9.00am Networking & refreshments

This will be a great opportunity for you to network between the other attendees and panellists present. There will be a selection of refreshments served for you to enjoy.

9.30am Welcome from British Business Bank (BBB)

We will be discussing headlines about BBB, explaining the role of the Bank, informing you of the core funding programmes that we have running at this time and discussing the UK Network team etc.

We will also include the highlights for The Business Finance Week and what it is about.

9.30am to 11.00am Introductions to topic and panel

Funding options and financial management to understand where debt fits in a business’ plan for growth and the finance needed to fuel that growth. We’ll talk about ‘good debt’ ie debt with a purpose and the various options available for different funding requirements.

Debt for Growth

We are excited to announce that Sue Elliott will be discussing the overview of the business journey The British Business Bank has been on and the funding options that are available to businesses.

After Sue has provided her exciting talk, the panellists will introduce themselves, their roles and organisations they belong to.

• On behalf of Kent County Council we welcome Sue Berdo who will be discussing the current Small Business Boost Loan Scheme they have available to be taken advantage of by eligible businesses.

• From the Kent & Medway Growth Hub we have the very experienced Tudor Price, who will be talking about the expectations of funders, business plans and the applications to the funder. Very informative details hat you would all benefit from.

• On behalf of Kreston Reeves we are excited to have Andrew Griggs conversing about the benefits of ‘good’ debt for growth & the importance of sound financial planning.

• There will be a representative from Shawbrook Bank joining us who will be explaining why the high street banks are not the only answer for your business.

• From ASC Finance we have Alister Golesworthy in attendance who will be sharing his wealthy knowledge of finances with us all. He will talk about how there is a range of asset finance available from many funding providers including asset finance, invoice finance, short term trade finance etc.

After the panellists have concluded their talks, we will invite questions from the audience in an open interactive session

11.00am Wrap up

There will be a brief summary of the discussions from the two panel sessions and recap on sources of help and support so you will all leave the event with the information fresh in your minds.

At this point we will invite you to continue to network with the panellists and others. There will be a section of the venue that will be transformed into a pop up market place where you will be able to obtain further information if you wish to do so.

11.05am Networking will continue and you can meet funding providers and advisers to gain more insight into what we all have to offer.

More refreshments will be served before the event comes to a close.

12.00 noon Close