LEP to offer Stoke and Staffordshire SMEs advice on funding
BUSINESSES throughout Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire are being offered more help accessing the financing they need in order to grow.
The Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire Local Enterprise Partnership is holding a free Finance for Business event on Tuesday September 2 at Branston Golf and Country Club, near Burton.
The event, which takes place between 10am and 1pm, will feature experts summarising the various forms of finance available to local businesses and will answer questions to help clarify which types of finance are appropriate for their needs.
Organisers will also help attendees overcome misconceptions of the models and sources of funds available to SMEs. Firms will be able to find out more about funding options such as small business grants, high growth investment, equity and venture capital and non-bank lending among others.
Businesses and the various financial intermediaries will also be networking, while there is also an exhibition area and the opportunity for one-to-one discussions with specific funders.
David Frost, chairman of the Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire LEP, said: “We want to ensure our small businesses get all the backing they need to be a success, help boost our economic growth and create jobs.
“There are many varied sources of finance available to SMEs and it can sometimes seem quite overwhelming to distinguish what funding is right for them. Our event will clearly present the funding options and provide an opportunity for businesses planning to expand and develop their operations to have that one-to-one discussion on taking their growth plans forward.”
The event will support everyone from sole traders to finance directors at SMEs, in addition to business support intermediaries, accountants and financial institutions.
