This document provides an agenda and summaries for a Business Growth Lunch event held in Trafford on November 25, 2016. The agenda included welcome remarks, presentations on the GM Export Fund and a guest speaker from Nothing But Epic. It also included time for Q&A and networking. The guest speaker discussed his experience starting and growing his company. He emphasized the importance of mentors, regular evaluation, transparency, and choosing business partners wisely. The event concluded with an update from the Business Growth Hub advisor on the services and support they provide to help businesses in Greater Manchester with activities like accessing finance, finding new markets, innovation, and operational efficiency.

1. November
Business Growth Lunch
Trafford, 25 November 2016

2. Welcome and introductions
Tony Ward
Business Growth Advisor – Trafford
Business Growth Hub

3. Agenda
11.30am – Arrival and registration
12.00pm – Welcome and introductions, Tony Ward, Business Growth Advisor - Trafford, Business Growth Hub
12.10pm – GM Export Fund, Alain Dilworth, Programme Manager, Business Growth Hub
12:15pm – Guest speaker - Mike Anderson, Chief Executive Officer - Product, Nothing But Epic
12.40pm – Questions & answers
12.50pm – Business Growth Hub update and closing remarks, Tony Ward, Business Growth Advisor - Trafford,
Business Growth Hub
13:00pm – Lunch and networking
14:00pm – Event close

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

5. Greater Manchester Export Fund
Alain Dilworth
Programme Manager GM Export Fund
Business Growth Hub

6. Objectives of the programme
Create and safeguard over 1,000 jobs in Greater Manchester by March 2019.
Bridge the gap between global retailers and SME’s, and increase the number of Greater Manchester “home grown”
firms operating internationally
Create private sector leverage within the manufacturing sector in the UK
Support the sustainable growth of Private Sector enterprise in Greater Manchester by facilitating export-led growth
Support “new-to-export” companies to achieve their first international orders
Support existing exporters to increase the volume of their international sales.

7. Programme components
The GM Export Fund has two components:
Greater Manchester Export Grant Fund - £7M package of capital and revenue support to invest in the areas critical
for international development and export-focussed business growth. It will elevate businesses to a point where they
can either start to trade overseas or scale up their export operations to new markets.
Greater Manchester Export Loan Fund - £2.5M revolving loan fund providing short-term trade finance to companies
who have been refused export finance elsewhere. It will provide short-term working capital to enable companies to
fulfil export orders.
All eligible companies will also be referred to UK Trade & Investment North West for additional information, advice
and support regarding international trade.

8. Who is eligible?
Small and Medium sized enterprises within the manufacturing sector, although other sectors may be considered
where there is a strong case for support
Businesses located within the 10 Greater Manchester Local Authorities
Applications must demonstrate how the funding will both create/safeguard jobs and increase international activity
Grant funded Projects must be completed and funding claimed by May 2017 at the latest
Projects must create Private Sector Leverage. The Programme must achieve an overall public to private leverage
ratio of 1 to 4.
More information on the website at http://gmexportfund.com/

9. Guest speaker
Mike Anderson
Chief Executive Officer – Product
Nothing But Epic

11. Background
Graduated 2011

14. National publicity

15. Realisation that to make £1 million I would have
to sell 50,000 boxes (that’s 136 a day!)
If I was going to make it in the business world, I
needed a big idea!

16. GeoCities (by Yahoo): $830.23
Aardvark (by Google) $555.56
Mapquest (by AOL): $297.30
Jaiku (by Google): $240
Feedburner (by Google): $232.56
Zappos (by Amazon): $206.22
Delicious (by Yahoo): $150
Flickr (by Yahoo): $111.11
WhatsApp (by Facebook): $35.56
Instagram (by Facebook): $28.57

18. What we learnt:
• Would need a lot more money to scale a tech
platform.
• Someones won’t invest in our salaries whilst we think
of an idea.
BUT….
• Myself and Craig worked well together.
• We had also met an experienced mentor.
• With the right idea, we knew we could fly.

19. January 2015 - We Pivoted!

20. Began to ask what was wrong with Digital space…?
PEOPLE WERE BEING RIPPED OFF!
We began exploring the Digital space a lot further….
PPC
SEO
Re-Marketing
Email Marketing
Analytics
Websites
Conversion tracking

21. ative - Were brands consistent onli
s - What was the purpose of the w
ng people who love your brand to
ising - with a transparent focus on

27. We also partnered with the Business Growth Hub to
deliver a free workshop - Digital Transformation Live!

28. So where are we now as an agency?

29. We had also had an idea…

31. A privacy first
organisational tool for
these issues,
underpinned by a growth

35. >1000 users and some amazing feedback.

36. “Manchester’s Most Innovative
Company”

37. Our AIMS
• Improve the technology
• Bring in more good people
• Drive new users through effective marketing
• Deliver a platform which rewards
communities for creating an engaging space.
Where to
next?

38. Challenges
• Reduce the worry of
personal cash early
• Staff - A beer is more
valuable than a CV
• Business partners - Choose
them wisely
• Make sure you enjoy what
you do

39. Lessons Learned
• Find Mentors
• Take a step back & evaluate
regularly
• Always research and keep learning
• Get Organised about your business
• Be transparent
• There are never bad opportunities

40. Summary

41. Thanks and Questions!

42. Business Growth Hub update
Tony Ward
Business Growth Advisor - Trafford
Business Growth Hub

43. 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

44. 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.”

45. Marketing and communications

46. 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.

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

48. 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

49. 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”

50. 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”

51. Business Growth Hub Advisor - Trafford
Tony Ward
Tony.ward@businessgrowthhub.com
07714 767412

52. 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

53. No Business Growth Lunch in December
See you in January!

54. Contact us to find out more
Phone: 0161 359 3050
Email: info@businessgrowthhub.com
www.businessgrowthhub.com
@bizgrowthhub
• +Businessgrowthhub
BusinessGrowthHub