Staffordshire firms offered help accessing funding
BUSINESSES in Staffordshire are to be offered help accessing the finance they need in order to implement growth.
The Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire Local Enterprise Partnership is running its first Open Access to Finance event on January 26.
The event is being run in conjunction with the Black Country Reinvestment Society (BCRS), which operates the Staffordshire Business Support Fund in partnership with Staffordshire County Council.
LEP chairman Maitland Hyslop said the event, which is being held at the Staffordshire County Showground, was an ideal opportunity for businesses to speak to experts on how they can overcome funding hurdles.
“It is essential for us to support our SMEs, which are the lifeblood of our economy and this event should give some real support to them,” he said.
“We understand the difficulty businesses have experienced in recent times in accessing finance from the banks. Some of the organisations at our event provide financial services and can explain the right way to apply for loans; others will provide expert advice.”
The Open Access to Finance Forum runs from 4.30pm to 7pm and will offer companies seeking support the chance to meet a wide range of financial services providers operating in the West Midlands. It will be the first in a series of events that will be held across the region.
Financial bodies attending the event include commercial banks, corporate financiers, law firms, business and financial advisors, small business loan funds, accountants and business schools.
Paul Kalinauckas, chief executive of BCRS, said: “Previous Open Access to Finance Forums which we have held in the Black Country have received a high level of interest and this highlights that local businesses require more help and information to find out what funding is available and on what terms.
“We are delighted to be hosting this event to offer businesses direct access to a number of financial organisations which can hopefully offer them support.”
