Member Article

Pitching for Investment - NEA2F

Name: Alan Holmes

Position: Project Director

Organisation: North East Access to Finance - Routes to Investment

Synopsis of your area of expertise

An experienced business owner and manager now using my skills to help individuals and groups of companies through the design of workshops such as this, and through being a non-exec director and coach/mentor.

Describe the Routes to Investment workshop initiative?

It is a series of workshops developed by NEA2F in partnership with Newcastle Science
City to help companies identify sources of funding and get their business plans ready to
pitch to investors. Support from RMT, Square One Law, NBSL, and Rivers Capital has
helped create a fantastic process to accelerate the process of raising funding.

When will the workshops take place?

The first will take place from 1.00pm – 5.00pm on Friday February 24 with further workshops being held each Friday up to and including March 30. All the workshops will be held at Newcastle Central Library.

Who are the workshops aimed at?

They are aimed at any small or medium-sized company or business start-up that is looking to attract investment. Shaping up a new or existing business for investment can require skills and knowledge that many entrepreneurs might be unfamiliar with. The Routes to Investment workshops provide a wonderful opportunity for them to pick the brains of people who have a thorough understanding of what is required.

What topics will be covered by the workshops?

Access to Venture Capital

Pitching for Investment

The first workshop will help delegates identify sources of finance and the second will cover marketing and sales. The third workshop will look at the building and leading an effective team with the fourth examining the benefits of legal compliance and the fifth exploring effective funding, tax and exit strategies. The series will culminate with the opportunity for delegates to practice their business pitches.

Who addresses the workshops?

Some of the biggest names in business in this region, including former Sage chairman Paul Walker, Tyneside serial entrepreneur Jeremy Middleton and Fiona Cruickshank, director and co-owner of SCM Pharma, will be passing on their expertise to attendees, as will the cream of local professionals and fund managers such as RMT, Square One Law and Rivers Capital.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Alan Holmes .