Oct. 30, 2009

Need funding to start or grow your business?

If you are starting or growing a business and you're looking for funding of £10,000 or more, you'll need someone to help you work through the different options and identify which type of funding will work best for your business. Look no further than "Understanding Finance for Business", a free of charge programme that helps entrepreneurs identify the right kind of funding for their business and get in shape for investment. There are places available on workshops in Cambridgeshire and Norfolk on 10, 19 and 24 November 2009.

Grant funding? Bank? Friends & Family? Business angel? Venture Capitalist? There's a bewildering choice of funding options for entrepreneurs, some of which come with strings attached, begging a host of questions. By signing up for "Understanding Finance for Business" entrepreneurs will get all the answers they need from experts in business finance.

The programme is run by St John's Innovation Centre (a globally renowned business incubator, which has a wealth of experience in working with entrepreneurs and the investment community) on behalf of the East of England Development Agency. The process is simple - register online, then attend two workshops (2 - 3 hours each, held regularly throughout the region). The first workshop covers the big picture and the second looks at funding in a more focused way. After these, if the team think you would benefit from one-to-one support to get you to an investment ready position you will be supported and advised in your journey to secure funding.

Trevor Conway, business finance manager, EEDA said:

"It's too easy for entrepreneurs to waste time pursuing the wrong kind of money and getting knocked back in the process - particularly in this market. By signing up for 'Understanding Finance for Business' they will have access to expert advice and the chance to compare notes with others in the same boat. It costs nothing but the time the entrepreneur chooses to invest in getting where he/she wants to go."

Places are available on the following workshops:

Tuesday 10 November 2009 Woodgreen Animal Shelter, Huntingdon
Thursday 19 November 2009 Wyboston Lakes, Nr St Neots
Tuesday 24 November 2009 Hethel Engineering Centre, Norfolk

For other dates and to register go to www.bizmapeast.co.uk/finance/understanding_finance