Better Business Finance

Registration and Refreshments

Chairman’s Opening Remarks
Phil Smith, Managing Director, Business West

Keynote Addresses

Rt Hon Eric Pickles MP, Secretary of State, Department for Communities and Local Government

Colin Skellett, Chief Executive and Chair of Wessex Water, Chair of West of England Local Enterprise Partnership

Introduction to the Taskforce & Better Business Finance
Angela Knight, Chief Executive, British Bankers’ Association

Question and Answer Session/Panel Discussion

James Cliffe, Divisional Director, Barclays Business
Mike Conroy, Senior Manager, Strategy Implementation, HSBC
Martin Racher, Commercial Director, Lloyds Banking Group
Janis Sinton, Managing Director, TasteTech Ltd
Julian Alexander, Regional Director, South West of England, Santander UK Plc
Barry Evans, Regional Director, Commercial Banking South West & South Wales, The Royal Bank of Scotland

Coffee Break - 1-1 meetings with individual banks will be available

Breakout Sessions - Taskforce Initiatives

1. Access to finance for growing and expanding your business - 1 hour session
2. Access to finance for start-up firms - 1/2 hour session
3. How mentors can help support your business - 1/2 hour session
4. Open surgery with the banks - 1/2 hour session

Breakout Sessions 2-4 Repeated

2. Access to finance for start-up firms - 1/2 hour session
3. How mentors can help support your business - 1/2 hour session
4. Open surgery with the banks - 1/2 hour session