Succession planning for business owners - The Next Chapter

Development Bank of Wales webinar

Why succession planning should be a priority for businesses.

Are you or your clients thinking about retiring? Are you aware of the potential exit routes? Indeed, do you have a management team that is hungry to take on ownership of a business? What do you need to do to prepare?

The Next Chapter webinar event will look at why management buyouts (MBOs) are an attractive option for owners wishing to sell and management teams looking to buy a business. We will explore succession and growth post-transaction.

Date: 15 October 2025

Time: 10:00-11:00am

Location: Online

Our panel of experts will discuss why MBOs are usually the smoothest and quickest type of succession, the importance of planning early and the benefits of having the Development Bank on board as an investor.

The panel includes:

Robert Lloyd Griffiths OBE Strategic Adviser, Chair and NED
Highly respected and well-connected leader in the Welsh business community and Chair of the Welsh Government’s Strategic Board overseeing Business Support in Wales.

Tanya Wilson Corporate Finance Accounting Director, SME Finance A Fellow of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants with over 20 years of business advisory and forensic accounting experience. Tanya has a wide range of corporate finance experience including disposal (trade and private equity), management buyouts, acquisitions, raising finance, strategic reviews, share valuations and due diligence assignments (for private equity, banks and corporate clients). Tanya has a genuine passion in supporting the growth and success of SME businesses throughout Wales.

Jason Thomas Managing Director, Afon Engineering
With over 30 years’ experience in engineering, Jason has delivered major projects worldwide across nuclear, oil and gas, steelmaking, marine, and renewable energy sectors, while building strong international export agreements. In November 2024, he acquired Afon Engineering, where he is now combining technical expertise with strategic leadership to drive growth and innovation. Outside of work, he’s a keen (frustrated) golfer and passionate about rugby and football.

Richard Jones Partner, Blake Morgan
Richard is a partner in the Corporate team at Blake Morgan LLP and deals with a broad range of corporate matters. He has extensive experience advising on acquisitions, disposals, management buy-outs and buy-ins, private equity transactions, corporate and contractual joint ventures, investments, shareholder agreements, corporate restructurings, reorganisations and refinancing exercises together with general corporate matters. He also has experience advising insolvency practitioners, typically administrators, in connection with their appointment and the eventual sale of insolvent businesses.

Bethan Cousins New Business Director, Development Bank of Wales
With a wealth of experience of equity deals, Bethan is a Director at the Development Bank of Wales, a top 3 venture capital investor in the UK. 

If you’re interested in finding out more about how Development Bank of Wales can support management teams through succession and beyond, register for your free place. 
Please feel free to forward this on to any colleagues who may be interested