Over 90 businesses from across Shropshire gained valuable insight into funding and investment opportunities at the annual and highly popular Summer Funding Summit, which brought together lenders, investors and advisers for a day of practical support and networking.
The free event welcomed businesses of all sizes and sectors, from early-stage start-ups to established businesses looking for opportunities to develop and grow. The Summit was co-organised by Shropshire Growth Hub (Invest in Shropshire) and Invest Telford, in partnership with the British Business Bank and Shropshire Chamber of Commerce.
Attendees benefited from a programme of expert-led sessions covering funding routes, investment readiness and how to strengthen applications. A series of short presentations from funders and lenders helped demystify the range of finance options currently available, while dedicated networking sessions enabled businesses to connect directly with support organisations and finance providers.
A highlight of the day was a ‘fireside chat’ with entrepreneur Mo Chaudry, who shared insights from his business journey and discussed the experiences that shaped his career, as well as his latest initiative to support founders in accessing growth finance.
Ruth Westwood, of the Shropshire Growth Hub, said:
“Businesses are facing numerous challenges at the moment. Bringing businesses face-to-face with funders and advisers who can help them navigate some of these can make a real difference. The Summit helped to simplify what can often feel like a complex landscape and gave attendees the confidence to explore the options available to them.”
Simon Williams of Cold Move who attended the event, said:
“The Summit provides a great opportunity to understand the range of funding options available to business in Shropshire. Hearing directly from funders and advisers has helped us to better understand options available to our business when considering funding and investment “
Cllr Alex Wagner, Deputy Leader of Shropshire Council and Cabinet Member for Transformation, Economic Growth and Digital, said:
“Supporting local businesses to start, grow and invest is central to Shropshire’s economic ambitions. Events like the Summer Funding Summit play an important role in connecting our businesses with the expertise and finance they need to succeed.”
Tracy Sherratt, West Midlands Senior Manager at the British Business Bank, said:
“Ensuring businesses and entrepreneurs can access the funding they need to start a business remains a key priority for us. As the funding landscape continues to develop, it is worth noting that there is a wide range of options available to businesses. From Start Up Loans and debt finance through to equity investment and innovation funding that can be accessed to grow and expand.
“Events such as this provide a valuable opportunity for those interested to learn more about the options that are available to them and gain practical insights into the support that could help achieve their growth plans.”
The event also highlighted ongoing and established funding routes. Businesses can continue to explore these opportunities by contacting the Shropshire Growth Hub for free support or any of the partners involved in the event
Notes to Editors
The Shropshire Growth Hub is part of Invest in Shropshire at Shropshire Council. It provides information and support for businesses in the Shropshire Local Authority area. It runs an extensive yearly calendar of free events and webinars and offers advice on grants, loans, and assistance for companies of any size or sector, from start-ups to established enterprises.
The main contract funding the work of the Shropshire Growth Hub is the Marches Growth Hub (MGH) core funding through the Department for Business and Trade.
