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LEP hosting free business finance event for South West SMEs

Heart of the South West LEP access to finance event

We are holding a business support event in Paignton on 10th May, aimed at foreign-owned SMEs in Devon, Somerset, Plymouth and Torbay.

Accessing financial and business support is crucial for business growth. As part of the Heart of the South West LEP’s aims to support economic and business growth in the region, the LEP are holding a free Access to Finance event for foreign-owned SMEs.

The Access to Finance seminar will offer guidance on Government funds and grants available to foreign-owned businesses, and business support available from the Heart of the South West Growth Hub, HSBC, and British Business Bank, with expert advice from SME lending specialists.

The event will feature speakers including:

  • Eifion Jones, COO at Heart of the South West LEP
  • David Hynd, Programme & Partnership Manager at Heart of the South West Growth Hub
  • Paul Jones, Senior Manager UK Network Team at British Business Bank
  • Chris Mears, Principal at BOOST&Co
  • Richard Bowles, Director at ThinCats
  • HSBC
  • Wayne Loschi, Direct at EPIC

 

The Access to Finance seminar will be held on 10th May, 10am to 1pm, at the Electronics & Photonics Innovation Centre (EPIC) in Paignton.

Register here.

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      David Ralph

      Chief Executive

      David Ralph started as Chief Executive of Heart of South West LEP at the beginning of June 2018. Previously, he had spent 5 years as CEO of the Derby, Derbyshire, Nottingham, Nottinghamshire (D2N2) LEP from 2013 where he oversaw the development of the D2N2 Strategic Economic Plan and sector strategies, 3 Growth Deals with HM Government to deliver a £1billion capital investment programme, securing and implementing £200m ESIF programme, the Derby and Nottingham Enterprise Zone, the D2N2 Skills Deal and Time for Innovation programme, community fund and led the executive team to develop the HS2 East Midlands hub. He was also closely involved in the proposed North Midlands Devolution Deal and one of the key architects in establishing the Midlands Engine, chairing the officer steering group. Whilst in this role David was a NED of the Nottingham Enterprise Zone, and Marketing NG, the Outer Estates Foundation and a Governor of Nottingham College and on the advisory Board of Nottingham Business School.

      Before the East Midlands, David was CEO of the Have Gateway Partnership working closely with local stakeholders including the ports of Felixstowe, Harwich and Ipswich and BT Adadastral Park across Suffolk and Essex and prior to that was Chief Exec of the Barton Hill New Deal for Communities programme in Bristol and the Nelm Development Trust in Norwich.

      David is a keen sailor, walker and trail runner.