Taking place in Old Billingsgate, London on 2nd and 3rd February 2016, the Business Funding Show (BFS) will bring together two key groups in the UK economy – entrepreneurs looking for funding and leading finance-providers. From the market players that provide growing businesses with investment, loans and working capital to the ambitious and growing businesses looking to take the next step in their development, the BFS is designed to help pave the paths to success for the UK SME sector.
The two day event will host around 120 exhibitors and has three exhibiting areas: Lending (Debt Finance), Investment (Equity Finance), and Growth Support (Service Providers). All attendees will have the opportunity to meet representatives from leading banks, angel associations, investment firms, crowdfunding platforms, public grants, asset finance companies and a range of other traditional and alternative finance providers. The BFS will also play host to essential business support services.
At the event will be celebrated entrepreneurs and investors who will be on-hand to offer advice and guidance to help businesses. From government leaders to captains of industry, those attending will be able to hear from and meet the individuals supporting SME growth, including Richard Reed (Innocent) and Charlie Mullins (Pimlico Plumbers), who were two of the first to step forward to support the event. Other confirmed speakers include: Bill Morrow (Angels Den), Mark Wright (Climb Online and The Apprentice winner 2015), David Buttress (JustEat), Jonathan Pfahl (RockStar), Karen Melonie Gould (Gateway2Enterprise), and Michael Wilkinson (Crowdcube), amongst many others.
SMEs represent the backbone of the UK economy yet, according to BIS’ Small Business Survey 2015, only 15 per cent of SMEs are familiar with multiple finance sources and specific providers. This highlights an alarming lack of engagement from the SME sector when it comes to securing the best finance options to grow their businesses.
Commenting on the show, Arina Osiannaya, director of The Business Funding Show, said; “Modern entrepreneurs are still failing to consider all the options available to secure the right and best funding for their businesses. At a time when the lines between the business and finance provider are becoming increasingly blurred, businesses are still hesitant when approaching external funding sources due to lack of knowledge and understanding. The Business Funding Show is timed to perfection in terms of bringing the two parties together to build lasting relations.
A wide range of seminars and workshops will be available for all attendees. There will be a Live Investment Challenge run by Angels Den, where only the six strongest businesses among all those who apply will have the opportunity to pitch for funding to panel of investors.
There will also be several workshops and bootcamps for those concerned with investment preparedness. The BFS will also offer a clinic where business owners can receive one-to-one advice and mentoring and get help with legal matters. There will also be a Central Investment Zone where attendees will be able to meet the event speakers.
Arina continues; “The Business Funding Show is not the typical meet-and-greet for entrepreneurs and finance institutions. The event has so much appeal because it engages the entire spectrum of finance providers and dissolves the traditional walls that have always separated the funders from the fund seekers.”
Registration is already underway for the Business Funding Show, with finance providers from across England already confirmed. Please visit www.businessfundingshow.
