Exporting to new markets, overseas procurement and offshore production are routes many growing businesses choose in order to grow. We will be looking at both the finance facilities available to small and medium enterprises together with access to advice on how to minimise risk.

 

At these conferences we do something different. Our conferences involve ‘live’ case studies, informal panel discussions, Q&As and networking.

 

We build in time for attendees to really question speakers to help ensure each attendee gains a tangible learning that will impact their business.

 

 

THE TRADE FINANCE SHOW FROM INFORMED FUNDING  – THE WHAT, WHO, WHY AND WHEN

 

We are excited to announce the first Informed Funding Conference of 2017 – hot on the heels of our successful 2016 series of seminars and conferences.

 

Our focus for the day of 30 March 2017 will be on TRADE FINANCE – both domestic and international. This event will be the biggest UK gathering of trade finance expertise in one place – all to the benefit of companies that want to GROW.

 

We are once again hiring the wonderful Glaziers Hall on ’s South Bank. We love this venue for its great ambience as well ideal location.

 

 

Timetable*

 

 

8:45 to 9:00 Registration: with refreshments served.

 

9:00 to 9:10 Welcome to the Day: with Chris Dines, CEO of Informed Funding.

 

9:10 to 9:35 Keynote Speech: The Future of Global Trade, with Dr Rebecca Harding, Co-founder and CEO of Equant-Analytics.

 

9:35 Introduction from the Workspace Group, with Stefan Duda, Corporate Development Manager at Workspace.

 

9:40 to 10:05 Case Study One: BBOXX is a venture backed company developing solutions to provide affordable, clean energy to off-grid communities in the developing world. The company now employs 350 staff across UK, China and East Africa. We’re featuring Anshul Patel, VP of Business Development at BBOXX.

 

Anshul led their Kenyan operations and BBOXX’s flagship securitisation of distributed off-grid energy receivables. BBOXX are a customer of the Workspace Group, based out of Chiswick Studios in West .  

 

10:05 to 11:00 Main Session One: How to Finance the Orders you Win – So, you’ve got the sale now you have to deliver and that can be a big working capital drag.

 

Mark Runiewicz, CEO of Trade & Export Finance Limited will lead this session, which will include input from UK Export Finance, Archana Singh, Export Finance Manager.

 

 

Session Case Study: Armadillo Marketing Ltd

Armadillo has been providing cost effective LED design solutions and innovative lighting products since 1996. Their energy efficient products have been used for a wide variety of purposes, from interior lighting in hospitals, to exterior lighting for some of ’s most iconic landmarks.

 

Joined by: David Bide (MD) and Bartosz Gesner (Technical Director) at Armadillo Marketing Ltd

 

11:00 to 11:20 Refreshment Break

 

11:20 to 12:05 Main Session Two: How to Finance Equipment, Production and Stock - This session will be led and chaired by Gary Jesson, Managing Director and Co-Founder of EFM. Gary leads EFM, providing their clients with the trained eye of an experienced Finance Director, raising finance, providing strong discipline and leading companies through difficult periods.

 

This session will feature: Guy Willans, COO from TradeRiver (UK) Ltd. TradeRiver is a simple alternative to conventional bank trade facilities and provides a source of unsecured working capital, allowing companies to grow faster. 

 

Alexandra Arens, CEO & Co-Founder of Claribel . Peruvian-born Alexandra Arens founded Claribel after embarking on decorating her first apartment.  Having lived in 8 different cities, she had an idea of what she wanted - a product ethically sourced, chic, elegant and fairly priced, but couldn’t find anything to meet her needs. She turned to former fashion designer and now partner Mariana Barrios for advice and the two founded Claribel a homeware brand championing responsibly sourced Peruvian products. Claribel are a customer of the Workspace Group, based out of The Leather Market.

 

Matthew Goddard from Trade Finance Solutions. Matt is an experienced corporate finance professional with over 25 years working in the Trade & Export Finance; Asset Finance & Asset Based Lending sectors.

 

12:05 to 12:50 Main Session Three: How to Manage Risk - Here we focus on regulatory compliance, receipt/payment risk and currency management. This session will be led and chaired by Ed Simpson, Director and Founder of The Legal Director.

 

Ed Simpson is an experienced corporate/commercial lawyer who combines wide-ranging technical legal expertise with hands-on business experience to provide pragmatic solution-driven advice to businesses.

 

This session will feature: Heather Lee, Product Lead of Trade Finance at Accuity. Accuity offers a suite of innovative solutions for payments and compliance professionals, from comprehensive data and software that manage risk and compliance, to flexible tools that optimize payments pathways.

 

Kevin Bottwood, Senior Business Development Manager at Smart Currency Business. Smart Currency Business is a recognised expert in international money transfers, providing UK companies with tailored currency exchange services.

 

12:50 to 13:15 Case Study Two: Brompton Bikes makes over 45,000 bikes per year, in , and is the UK’s largest bike manufacturer. Brompton now does business in 45 countries. With Lorne Vary, Chief Financial & Business Development Officer at Brompton Bicycle

 

13:15 to 15:00 Lunch Served – Extended Buffet Lunch: A chance to meet other delegates and also to share some lunch at 1:1 meeting

 

13:45 to 15:30  1:1 Workshops Sessions: book private time with Funders, Finance, Legal and Trade experts. There will be capacity on the day to book meetings.

 

1:1 Sessions  - Legal and Finance experts will be ready to meet you for 1:1 sessions helping you with your specific questions and challenges

 

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Meet Funders and Other Advisors - During lunch and other Refreshment breaks, a wide range of organisation that can assist business will have their own meeting table

 

*Our timetable and mix of speakers is always subject to amendment, dependent on availability.

 

 

Tickets

 

 

Thanks to our sponsors, we can afford to offer free tickets to our first 50 registered businesses – subject to status*. You will need to register .

 

Single conference tickets are £40+VAT

 

*Free tickets are only available to management of trading UK companies (PLC/Limited/LLP)

 

Customers of the and have free premium access to Informed Funding including free membership and preferential access to our conferences.

 

Informed Funding is Sponsored by Workspace.

 

Workspace is home to some 4000 New and Growing Companies. It provides unique office space, co-working and meeting rooms in over 65 business centres across . Workspace provides the right environment for its customers to grow, offering business grade connectivity, access to key partner services and a rolling programme of business insight and networking events.

 

 

With thanks to our Event Partners:

 

 

 

With thanks to our Event Sponsors 

 

 

is a leading UK registered funding platform, providing small and medium businesses with a fast and efficient finance option.

 

We can offer an easy to use Working Capital Facility using our cutting-edge technology with no arrangement fees, contracts or onerous applications leaving you completely in control.

 

Whether Single, partial or full invoice discounting, short term loans or support for a Saas business model, we are here to help and passionate about helping UK SME get the funding needed to succeed!

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