Marches LEP gathers experts for Hereford business finance event

Leading experts in business finance will be sharing their knowledge at a special event in Hereford to help firms access vital funding to help them grow.

The Marches Local Enterprise Partnership and its business support arm the Marches Growth Hub have teamed up with the British Business Bank to host the free event at the city’s Shell Store on Skylon Park on June 21.

The event – which gets under way at 9am – will give expert insight into the range of funding options from the Midlands Engine Investment Fund (MEIF) as well as the huge range of support accessible through the Growth Hub.  

It will be hosted by Tracy Sherratt, UK Network Manager for the West Midlands at British Business Bank, who will be joined by Rachel Laver, chief executive of the Marches LEP, and MEIF fund managers Victoria Copestake from First Enterprise and Surjit Kooner Investment Manager of Midven.

Rachel said the event – which would include a panel discussion – would be unmissable for any business which wanted to access finance to help drive its growth.

“It is not often that you get the chance to hear directly from some of the people managing funds worth millions of pounds about how they can help your business access the funding it needs to build for the future.

“We’ll also have entrepreneurs on hand to tell their own stories of how they have accessed finance and the impact it has had on their business and there will be plenty of opportunities to ask questions, network and meet the fund managers on a one-to-one basis.”

The event is part of the LEP’s ongoing work offering business support, driving growth, developing sustainable infrastructure and leading the response to the climate emergency across Herefordshire, Shropshire and Telford & Wrekin.

The Marches Growth Hub – the region’s comprehensive business support service – offers access to more than 130 funding programmes and has helped 4,150 businesses in the first half of 2022/23 alone.

Rachel added: “Any business of any size looking for help and support should make the LEP and Growth Hub their first port of call. We have experts who can find the best scheme for you as well as guide you through the application process.

“The event at Hereford will be the perfect way to make contact if you have not already done so and find out just how we and our partners can help you.”

The British Business Bank is owned by but independent of the government. It aims to drive sustainable growth and prosperity across the UK, and to help smaller businesses to become net zero by helping them to access finance.

To book the event, held at The Shell Store, Skylon Park, Hereford Enterprise Zone, visit  https://www.marchesgrowthhub.co.uk/events/how-finance-can-propel-your-business-to-the-next-level/