Advice Centre builds business for SMEs
The Advisory Drop-in Centre will be centrally located with the Subcon, Advanced Manufacturing and The Engineer Design & Innovation shows all of which take place from 2 to 4 June at the NEC, Birmingham.
Visitors and exhibitors alike will be able to tap into expertise from organisations including Lloyds Bank, the Business Growth Service, the High Value Manufacturing Catapult, the EIA and export focussed trade bodies.
Entrance to the Advisory Drop-In Centre is complimentary for show attendees and no appointments are necessary.
Visitors will be able to meet WMG accredited relationship managers from Lloyds Bank who are dedicated to supporting the needs of manufacturing business owners and able offer a full range of financial solutions. This could be funding for plant, machinery and vehicles or working capital for trading in the UK or overseas, or even advice around how to make cash deposits work more effectively for you.
Advisors from the High Value Manufacturing Catapult will help SMEs explore the potential for collaboration – explaining how innovative companies can benefit from access to the world-class equipment and expertise on offer at the Catapult Centres.
The Business Growth Service will help visitors identify barriers to growth and provide tailored advice on how businesses can be improved coaching, consultancy, mentoring, training, access to finance and export advice.
Also on hand for one-to-one meetings will be International Trade Advisers – experts in exporting with a manufacturing background – who will give impartial advice and guidance.
The EIA, an Accredited Trade Organisation (ATO) for UK Trade & Investment (UKTI), assists UK SME companies in their participation at overseas engineering trade shows. Visitors can drop-in and find out how to access financial support to take part in overseas exhibitions and discuss the key issues that EIA should be raising in its lobbying activities.
Commenting on the launch of the Advisory Drop-In Centre, Grant Burgham, Business Development and Portfolio Director at show organiser Centaur Live, said: “This unique resource for visitors and exhibitors is a true first for a UK trade show. It will provide real and direct support to manufacturing SMEs and help them grow their businesses.”
A spokesman for Lloyds Bank added: “Through our ongoing Continuous Professional Development programme, we are confident that our team are well equipped to demonstrate a strong level of understanding in the manufacturing sector and we are better able to understand the issues being faced by manufacturing businesses and how we need to tailor our solutions and advice to help you achieve your ambitions.”
