The Business Funding Show (BFS) holds the only exhibition exclusively focused on business funding and growth support and creates a series of workshops throughout the year to help small businesses learn about funding options. The first show in February 2016 was a success. We welcomed celebrated entrepreneurs and investors such as Richard Reed (Innocent), Charlie Mullins (Pimlico Plumbers), and Lord
Bilimoria (Cobra Beer) who offered guidance to businesses seeking direction. Other notable speakers included Bill Morrow (Angels Den), Jenny Tooth (UK Business Angels), Mark Wright (The Apprentice winner 2014), David Buttress (JustEat), Chelsey Baker (Broadcasting Your Business), Michael Wilkinson (Crowdcube), Mark Williams (Ratesetter), Matt Adey (British Business Bank), and many more. Due to success of our first show, what originally was planned to be an annual event turned into a series of funding events and workshops, aiming to help SMEs to find their best funding solutions by learning from top lenders and investors. The next show (February 2017) will again bring together two key groups in the UK economy - entrepreneurs looking for funding and leading finance and service providers. The event will host market-leaders representing their services within three exhibiting zones: Lending, Investment, and Growth Support. All attendees to the event will have ample opportunity to liaise with representatives of various leading financial institutions to discuss their funding options and growth pathways. SMEs represent the backbone of the UK economy yet, according to BIS’ Small Business Survey 2015, only 15% 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. BFS aims to solve this problem and together with our visiting SME owners and prominent exhibitors, we will Shape The Future of Funding.
