Entrepreneurs unite to access advice on finance

HUNDREDS of entrepreneurs packed into an event to learn how to obtain finance and grow their businesses.
Grace Hawkins-Taylor of Uni Cribbs with organiser Shena Mitchell at the Access to Finance and Growth day Picture: Ian Hargreaves (161226-6)Grace Hawkins-Taylor of Uni Cribbs with organiser Shena Mitchell at the Access to Finance and Growth day Picture: Ian Hargreaves (161226-6)
Grace Hawkins-Taylor of Uni Cribbs with organiser Shena Mitchell at the Access to Finance and Growth day Picture: Ian Hargreaves (161226-6)

The event, which took place on Wednesday at Portsmouth Guildhall, saw scores of companies offer the budding businesspeople advice on a range of issues such as crowdfunding, floating on the stock exchange, recruitment, accounting and more.

The event – called Access to Finance and Growth – was organised by not-for-profit organisation Entrepreneurs Unite.

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The day started with talks from Steve Berry, executive chairman from Invest South, Julian David, CEO of TechUK, and Marcus Stuttard, head of AIM at the London Stock Exchange.

Richard Hipkiss, managing director of The Learning and Trading Academy, which is based in Portsmouth, held a break-out session to give advice on issues surrounding recruitment.

He said: ‘I am an entrepreneur myself. I saw an opportunity to grow my own business and it is fantastic to have a forum like this to speak to other people and get advice.

‘It is great to see that you are not on your own – and it is great to get new ideas.’

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Also promoting his accounting company was Lee Scott, from Addo Accounting, in Portsmouth.

He said: ‘It is great to see so many people getting out there and getting on and starting their own businesses.’

The day ended with a host of awards being handed out.

Best Crowd-funded Start-up Award went to Lick Frozen Yogurt, Most Creative Business went to Victorious Festival, Fastest Growing Start-up Award went to Offsite Homes, Best Social Enterprise was won by The Movement Initiative, Most Sustainable Start-up was won by Boathouse Number 4, the Best Innovator Award went to SupaPowa and finally, NquiringMinds won Cyber Savvy Business of the Year.

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