Full presentation for the event 'Helping Your Business Grow' Breakfast Series: Stockport 19.01.2017

1. 'Helping Your Business Grow'
Breakfast Series
Stockport
19 January 2017

2. Welcome and introductions
Ian Dixon
Access to Finance Team Leader
Business Growth Hub

3. Agenda
08.35 - Business Growth Hub update, Ian Dixon, Access to Finance Team Leader, Business Growth Hub
08.45 – Stockport Council update, Councillor Kate Butler, Stockport Council
08.55 – Stockport Business Finance Scheme, Andrew Nichols, Senior Loan Manager,
Business Finance Solutions
09.10 – Guest speaker, Adrian Thomas, Director, Kast Energy Solutions
09.30 – Questions and answers
09.45 - Closing remarks, Business Growth Hub
09.50 - Networking and refreshments
10.30 - Event closes

4. Housekeeping
• Fire procedure
• Phones on silent
• WiFi
• Login:
• Password:
• Twitter:
• @bizgrowthhub
• #BGHEvents
• Feedback forms on chairs

5. Please leave your feedback
Please take a couple of minutes before the
networking to complete the feedback form and
return it to the Hub staff

6. Business Growth Hub
Update
Ian Dixon

7. Enable Growth, Create Jobs, Improve Lives
To transform the economy of Greater Manchester, delivering growth and prosperity to
the city region by providing research and analysis to drive policy and delivery, raising
Manchester’s profile, attracting investment, helping businesses grow and providing
individuals with new skills and employment opportunities.
MGC Purpose

8. Evaluation Report
• 83% of clients have told us that they would rate Business Growth
Hub services as good or excellent
• 93% of clients would recommend us
“I am receiving wonderful
support in getting my business
off the ground in areas which
are new to me My business
advisor has been invaluable in
linking me with people and
events enabling me to proceed
from one step to another.”
“The support I received
was brilliant and very
comprehensive. The level
of support and the amount
was just perfect for me and
the company.”

9. Marketing and communications

10. Our events
3717
Event
attendees
Just to say thank you for a
really good event and fantastic
speaker, the networking will
hopefully lead to business.
Thanks again to all at the Hub
for support and these events.

11. Delivery Partners
Private Partners
Finance Partners
Network Partners
University Partners
Media Partners
Public Partners

12. We help entrepreneurs and growing
businesses in Greater Manchester
with the skills and support they need
to succeed, through:
• Enquiries line
• Networking/conferences
• Online resources
• One to one support
• Industry/sector specific programmes
• Workshops/masterclasses/clinics
• Partnership networks

13. How can we help?
• Common pitfalls
• Planning and strategy
• Training and development
• Promoting your business
• Discovering product
markets
• Market research
• Research and development
Starting a business Accessing Finance
• Navigating finance options,
NWBA/CO Angel
• Investment readiness
• Business planning support
• Financial modelling
Introductions to funders
• Exporting
Leadership & Strategy
• Management and company
structure advice
• Governance
• Leadership skills
• Business planning & target
setting
• One to one skills
• Succession planning
Workforce
• Developing your workforce
• Finding the right people for
your business
• Talent management
• Understanding the skills
gap
• Communications
• Structures
• Culture and values
“I want to start a business”
“I want to know how I can
finance my business”
“I want the right structures
and capability in place to
lead my business”
“I want the right people
and capability to develop
my business”

14. How can we help?
• Expanding a customer base
• Generating leads
• Diversify into new markets
• Exporting
• Market research
• Supply chain management
• Domestic/International
tenders
• Digital/marketing strategies
• Product marketing
Finding new markets Innovation
• Identifying opportunities
• Fostering an innovate
culture
• Bringing a new product or
service to market
• Commercialisation
• Harnessing technologies
• Eco-design of products,
packaging and processes
• Specialist R&D
Operational efficiency
• Systems and process
review
• Reducing operating costs
• Managing output, quality
and performance
Sustainability
• Developing eco-design of
products, packaging and
processes
• Harnessing new
technologies. E.g. digital
• Reducing operating costs
“I want to increase sales &
find new markets”
“I want to develop and
launch a new product or
service to market.”
“I want to increase the
operational efficiency of
my business”
“I want to be
environmentally
sustainable & reduce my
carbon footprint”

15. Department for International Trade
What we do
We are responsible for promoting Exporting is GREAT in the North West, working with partners to
ensure our clients take advantage of the huge opportunities open to UK businesses overseas.
Responsibilities
• Deliver international trade services across the North West under contract to DIT, European
Commission and DCLG.
• Providing one-to-one support to help NW businesses take their first step into the Exporting
world.
• Encourage current Exporters to expand into new markets to diversify and grow their business.
• Delivery of a range of masterclass activity held throughout the North West on key international
trade topics.
For further information contact:
+44 (0)333 320 0392 | info@tradenw.org | www.great.gov.uk

16. Your local support
Vincent McIntyre
Business Engagement Officer - Stockport
Vincent.McIntyre@businessgrowthhub.com
07891 949 088
Geoff Clowes
Access to Finance Specialist
Geoff.Clowes@a2fnw.co.uk
07738 980 888

17. Stockport Council Update
Councillor Kate Butler
Stockport Council

18. Stockport Business
Finance Scheme
Andrew Nichols
Business Finance Solutions

19. Stockport Business Finance Scheme
• Stockport Council, in partnership with Business Finance Solutions are launching a range of finance
for Stockport businesses.
• Loans are available from £500 through to £500,000.
• These funds are for Stockport businesses unable to obtain finance from the Commercial Banks.
• Business Finance Solutions are part of the Manchester Growth Company and are a not for profit,
alternative finance provider.

20. Stockport Business Finance Scheme
• Start-up loans are available from £500 to £25,000 per individual.
• A low interest rate of only 6% p.a. with no additional fees.
• Support with business plans and cash flow forecasts.
• A business mentoring service.
• The scheme is available for individuals who are starting a business or who have been trading for less
than 24 months.

21. Stockport Business Finance Scheme
• Loans are available from £3,000 to £100,000.
• Interest rates of between 10 and 15% p.a.
• An arrangement fee of 2% and a 1% p.a. monitoring fee.
• Loans can be repaid over any term up to 5 years.
• Stockport Business Loans are available for businesses who are unable to raise the finance they need to
either start up a new business or finance an existing business.
• Loans are not credit scored - decisions are made by Business Finance Solutions on a judgemental basis.

22. Stockport Business Finance Scheme
• Loans of up to £500,000 are available to Stockport businesses to help increase their export sales.
• The loan could be used as working capital or as cash support to enable a bank to issue a tender bond,
an advanced payment guarantee or a performance bond.
• Repayable up to 5 years.
• 2% arrangement fee - monitoring fees may also apply.
• Interest rates from 4% p.a.

23. Adrian Thomas - Director
Phoenix House
Whitehall Road
Bredbury
Stockport
SK6 2QR

24. Stockport based company who specialise in the supply of Energy
Reducing Technologies to businesses and organisations
We help business owners reduce their energy consumption,
lower emissions and lower their operating costs

25. KAST ENERGY PRODUCTS:
SOLAR PV VOLTAGE OPTIMISATION DESTRATIFICATION FANS
BATTERY STORAGE INFRA RED HEATING ENERGY MONITORING
If you consume
energy we can
help

26. Our Journey so far:
• KAST Energy Solutions formed in 2014
• Needed Advice and to Market ourselves
• Joined the Stockport Low Energy Network
• Introduction to
• Assigned Advisor - Vicky Wilding
• Identified other teams within Manchester Growth Hub
that could help us

27. Manchester Growth Hub assistance:
• Green Growth
• Innovation Growth
• Digital Growth
• Growth Mentoring
• Growth Start-up
• Manufacturing and Textile Growth
• Growth Service
• Other MGC services – DIT and Skills Company
• ACCESS TO FINANCE

28. Access to Finance:
• Introduction to advisor
• Geoff Clowes - Initial review meeting
• Cash Flow and Investor
• Short term finance to help
• Advise on how approach banks and other funding sources
• North West Business Angels
• Investors

29. Summary:
• You can’t do it all on your own
• Time is precious
• Advisors
• Wide range of advice
• Networking
• Training
• IT’S FREE

30. IT’S A NO BRAINER

31. Q&A

32. Closing remarks
Ian Dixon
Business Growth Hub

33. Forthcoming events
Business Growth Lunch
27 January, 12:00 – 14:00
UK Fast, Manchester
Prolific North Live – Finance and Growth Hub
15 -16 February
EventCity
live.prolificnorth.co.uk/
All events can be viewed and places booked on
our website www.businessgrowthhub.com/events