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News & Blog

Inspiring Growth: Alternative ways to take your business to the next level

Posted: 10th January 2017

For SMEs in Scotland, the transformation from an early-stage to a mature and successful business can be extremely challenging.

With traditional debt and equity funding difficult to access for young companies, alternative finance – usually sourced through crowdfunding platforms – is increasingly being used to drive forward businesses with high-growth ambitions. One of the broader challenges is matching businesses with investors to plug gaps in both the supply and demand of finance to support SME growth. This event – targeted at established businesses looking to scale up – will hear from a range of experts about the benefits of alternative finance.

It will also look at a wider range of issues affecting SMEs, including exports, e-commerce and how to overcome the variety of challenges facing businesses wanting to scale up. The ultimate aim is to help them compete in UK and international markets.

Confirmed speakers include:

Keith Brown, Cabinet Secretary for the Economy, Jobs and Fair Work, Scottish Government

Stuart Lunn, CEO, Lending Crowd

Derek Shaw, Investment Director, Scottish Investment Bank

Paula Skinner, Partner, Harper Macleod

Angela Morrison, Founder, amiExecutive

Emil Stickland, Director, Thrive Digital

Brian Smillie, Founder and CEO, Beezer

 

As a chamber member, please use code EDINCHAMBER to receive 20% on ticket price. To book, click here. This conference will take place on Wednesday 22nd March, 08:00 – 13:00, Royal College of Surgeons, Edinburgh. Fees include refreshments before and during the event followed by a networking lunch and access to post-conference reports. For more information please email conferences@scotsman.com or give the team a call on 0131 311 7233.

Business Comment

Business Comment is the Edinburgh Chamber of Commerce’s bi-monthly magazine. It provides insight on Edinburgh’s vibrant business community, with features on the city’s key sectors, interviews with leading figures and news on new business developments in the capital.
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