Finance your creative business (MANCHESTER)

Please note - This is the second in our series of Access to Finance events. The first being in London, the current available event is at MediaCityUK in Salford.

Getting access to the right finance at the right time can be a game-changer for creative firms allowing them to grow in size and scale. Whilst you may know the worth of your business, how do you communicate that worth to the right people in the right places to enable your business to grow?

• Are you a successful creative or digital business looking for access to finance?
• Do you need help to find the money you need to make your ideas a reality?
• Are you looking to exploit new business opportunities with new or existing clients?

Brought to you by The Creative Industries Council and Creative England, this free seminar and workshop will give you the opportunity to meet with investors, IP specialists, and industry experts, to discuss the real issues surrounding access to finance for your business and discover real solutions.

SCHEDULE

14:00: Coffee and Registration

14.10: Delegates seated

14:15: Welcome and introduction

Caroline Norbury MBE to introduce the conference and give an overview of the day.

14.45: Panel Discussion - Unlocking Private Sector Finance for Creative Businesses

Incentivising the flow of private sector finance is crucial to helping creative businesses access growth finance. In this panel discussion moderated by Financial Times Enterprise Editor, Andrew Bounds, experts will discuss the variety of ways an entrepreneur can finance their business, from crowd funding to securing investors. The panellists will explain the pros and cons of loans, venture capital, angel investment and equity capital, and help entrepreneurs determine what type of funding is most beneficial to their growing venture. The 45min panel discussion will be followed by a Q&A (bring your questions!).

Panel members:

• Irene Graham, British Bankers Association (BBA)
• Patrick Towell, Golant Media Ventures
• Jenny Tooth, UK Business Angels Association
• Luke Burns, GP Bullhound

15:45: Finding Public Financing: A Panel Discussion

Every business needs capital to grow, but getting that funding in place can be a challenge. In this panel discussion moderated by Innovate UK’s Matt Brown, experts will discuss the variety of ways an entrepreneur can finance their business through public funding, explain the pros and cons and explore current availability. The 45min panel discussion will be followed a Q&A (bring your questions!).

Panel Members:

• Sarah Thirtle, Creative United
• Ian Tabbron, Arts Council England
• Tom Fiddian, Innovate UK
• Alex McWhirter, Finance Yorkshire

16:45: Coffee break

17:00: Meet the Experts!

This interactive session will present a unique opportunity for businesses to speak directly to financiers and advisers to discuss the issues around access to finance. A series of round table discussions will be held each hosted by a representative from the British Bankers Association and a public sector funding ‘expert’. There will also be breakout tables offering more specialist advice:

Main discussion

Tables 1 – 5: British Bankers Association

Breakout tables

Table 6: Mentor Me
Table 7: Crowd Funding and Business Angels
Table 8: Intellectual Property Office, Gary Townley

Additional guests:

• James Bedford, Creative England
• Marc Burke, Knowledge Transfer Network
• Paula Rogers-Brown, Knowledge Transfer Network
• Alison Buckley, Knowledge Transfer Network
• Genevieve Pace, Creative United

18.00: Finance Your Creative Business networking drinks sponsored by the BBA.

19:00: Ends