Focus on Funding for Innovation

Focus on Funding for Innovation

Unlock the potential of your innovative business ideas at this event held in partnership with Innovate UK Business Growth. This is your opportunity to discover the latest funding and finance opportunities designed to propel your innovation to new heights.

Funding and finance is often crucial in your medium to long-term business plans. There are many options available across equity funding, debt funding and grants. Each comes with its own pros and cons and some may be more suitable to your business than others both in terms of the intended use of the money and the chances of securing it.

What will be covered?

Through presentations, workshops and Q&A’s, this event will help you to understand your funding and finance options and to make an informed decision on what is right for your business. You will get the opportunity to learn more about and ask questions on....

  • Investment readiness - an overview of the Investment Readiness Pathway, an initiative helping you to test your pitch deck before seeking investment
  • Finance Options - make an informed decision on what is right for your business.
  • Grant Applications - how to find the most appropriate grants for your projects and an understanding of how best to approach your application
  • R&D Tax Relief - Guidance and how to make robust claims

Don't miss this chance to take your innovation to the next level. 

Why Attend?

Attending this event will give you:

  • A rounded understanding of the funding and finance options available to innovative SMEs
  • Confidence that the options you choose are right for your business strategy
  • The next stages of where to get further tailored support to help your business grow

To book your place

Scroll down to the book now area to book your ticket to attend.

This event is run in partnership with InnovateUK. By booking you agree to your data being shared with event partners and give consent for them to contact you, you can opt-out at any time. To find out more about how InnovateUK will process your details please refer to their privacy policy


Details

Date:
20 March, 2025 - 20 March, 2025
Time:
10:00am - 2:00pm
Registration, networking and refreshments from 9.30am. A light buffet lunch from 1.00pm
Price:
Free
Location:
The Woodlands Suite, Adams Park, Hillbottom Road, High Wycombe, HP12 4HJ
Please note:

Parking: There is free parking available at the venue. Please follow What3Words: https://w3w.co/foster.necks.lives to locate the carpark. 

On arrival: Please proceed to the Woodlands Executive Lounge which is accessed along the left-hand side of the building via the stairs or lift.  We will have banners as a guide.  If you have any problems locating the space, please check at reception for guidance. 

Our environmental impact: We are working hard to reduce the environmental impact of our events and lower our carbon footprint as much as possible. Find out more here.

Contact:
Events Team
[email protected]

Speakers

Christopher Buckland: Innovation & Growth Specialist - Innovate UK Business Growth
  • Christopher Buckland: Innovation & Growth Specialist - Innovate UK Business Growth

Christopher supports SMEs’ growth in a multitude of different areas ranging from investor readiness, access to finance, business models & strategy and IP. Prior to joining Innovate UK Business Growth, he ran his own SME which was successful on multiple occasions in winning Innovate UK Grants. Christopher has supported numerous SMEs with their grant proposals over the past decade. He is in a unique position of going through the process himself, so is able to understand it from a company’s and funder’s point-of-view and provide best-practice guidance accordingly.


Nicola Wiley: Innovation & Growth Specialist - Innovate UK Business Growth
  • Nicola Wiley: Innovation & Growth Specialist - Innovate UK Business Growth

Nicola has over 20 years’ experience in business support, having managed a number of UK Government contracts for Biotechnology, Creative & Digital, Food & Drink Industry as well as helping companies access finance. These contracts raised UK companies’ involvement in UK and European funded programmes, addressing skills issues and growing businesses within the UK.


Susan Elliott, Senior Manager UK Network South East of England, British Business Bank
  • Susan Elliott, Senior Manager UK Network South East of England, British Business Bank

Susan is an experienced commercial manager working with British Business Bank stakeholders, intermediaries and delivery partners to help smaller business access finance for growth. Her knowledge and connections in the funding and business support community were gained from co-founding and running her own advisory and consulting business for 10 years, providing strategic advice for scale ups, delivering business accelerator programmes, managing public sector business support contracts and through partnerships with sources of finance for small and mid-sized businesses.