The government backed British Business Bank hosted an event in Birmingham to discuss the variety of funding options available for smaller businesses in the Midlands. The British Business Bank’s goal is to make finance markets work better for smaller businesses, allowing them to prosper, grow and support the economy throughout the UK.
The event, The British Business Bank: The Vital Ingredient for Growth - Midlands, brought together over 70 members of the business community and both the traditional and alternative finance sectors to hear about the variety of finance options available for smaller businesses in the Midlands.
Keith Morgan, CEO of the British Business Bank commented: “The British Business Bank strives to ensure that finance markets are working properly across the United Kingdom. To date we have already leveraged over ￡1.8 billion of small business lending through our programmes nationwide and supported over 3000 businesses in the Midlands alone. A diverse supply of finance options is crucial to enable smaller businesses to survive and grow. It is important that we continue to assess the range of opportunities local companies have access to in order to ensure they have all the necessary ingredients to thrive. Today reaffirms our commitment to ensure the finance market is working for smaller businesses in the Midlands.”
Also addressing the audience were Pat Hanlon, Greater Birmingham & Solihull LEP, Gavin Petken, Business Growth Fund and Helen Lumb, Shire Leasing who restated their commitment to ensuring the small business community in the Midlands were presented with ready and accessible financing opportunities.
Other speakers included:
· Bennie Gray, Owner, The Custard Factory
· Paul Kalinauckas, founder member and CEO, BCRS
· Joel Blake, co-founder, BizBritain Finance
· Robert Milnes, CEO, Fertility Focus
· Ian Willetts, Project Manager, Outreach, Innovation Birmingham