Rainmakers community steps up to economic leadership challenge at first conference
The first Rainmakers Conference, hosted by TheBusinessDesk.com, brought together 400 corporate finance professionals and business owners in Manchester.
Garry Wilson, chair of the British Venture Capital Association (BVCA) and managing partner of Endless, set the scene by emphasising the strength of the North’s corporate finance sector.
“Here in Manchester we have, by some measures, Europe’s second largest gathering outside London for private equity firms,” he said. “Leeds has also grown, from just three firms in 2005 to double digits.”
Wilson was upbeat about the potential.
He said: “There has never been a better time for entrepreneurs to get the backing they need. There has never been a better time for family firms to address succession issues with the introduction of new capital – our capital.
“There has never been a better time for management teams to get the backing and support that they need – and indeed there has never been a better time for successful business owners to reap the rewards.
“The even better news is that we remain a young industry with huge room for growth.”
Joe Manning, managing director of inward investment agency MIDAS, talked about the interest there is in the region, from Texas to India, with the North prominent in trade missions and free trade agreement.
He said: “A city-to-city, or city-to-state, dialogue can be the most effective, particularly when it’s business, alongside universities, alongside our sporting and cultural institutions.
“There is an opportunity to further strengthen connections between the work that I do, the work the city region does, and the people in this room too. Then we can collectively tell our vibrant growth story around the world.”
TheBusinessDesk.com’s North West editor Michael Taylor, who hosted the conference, said: “We want this to be the start of a deeper partnership between theBusinessDesk.com and the corporate finance community. For too long one of the economic success stories of the last 20 years has been excluded from the conversation of how private capital and professional expertise can help shape the future economy of the North. Today we saw honesty, vulnerability, generosity and ambition in equal measure.”
Claire Lewis, founder of CEO of Baltic Ventures, said: “Fabulous to see such a packed room from the region’s thriving private equity community.”
Chris Stott, partner at KPMG, said: “Great to see the North West deals community out in full force supporting the inaugural Rainmakers Conference discussing all things M&A & deals at The Point, Old Trafford. Well done to the team for making this happen.”
Mark Lyons, investment director at Puma Private Equity: “The event represented the largest gathering of the VC/PE community outside of London and despite the economic headwinds there was definitely a sense of optimism in the room.”
Kai Ojo, chief executive of Planisware UK, said: “I’m buzzing, I spent the day at the Rainmakers Conference24 in Manchester as I decided to invest in myself and focus on learning, expanding and growing my mind – through listening to other people talk about what they do, share their insights and networking with likeminded people.”
TheBusinessDesk.com believe passionately that the jobs created, specialisms developed, and the entrepreneurs unleashed give the Rainmakers community the right to a seat at the table and a voice in the debate on the economy of the North.
This platform, like the 2024 Rainmakers conference, is an opportunity to not only celebrate the contribution from funds raised and deals created, but also to look to the future at the challenges ahead.
Visit rainmakers.thebusinessdesk.com to find out more and subscribe
