Events > Business Growth Networking Event

Business Growth Networking Event

Tuesday 24 May - Lawrence Batley Theatre

The Department for International Trade (DIT) and Kirklees Local TV are delighted to invite you to an informal networking event designed to engage and celebrate the culturally diverse business community in Yorkshire and the Humber.

Our aim is to connect you with a range of local partners to find out about the support available and explore the offers which will help to accelerate your business growth.

Most services on offer are free to businesses in Yorkshire and include:

  • Access to business funding and finance
  • Specialist tailored advice, support and mentoring
  • Events, workshops and qualifications
  • Digital resources and online training

We would also love to learn about your business challenges to understand the barriers to growth that you have experienced and find ways that we can help you to overcome them. 

 

How it Works

1. Speed Networking

A representative from each partner organisation will visit your table for 5-minute sessions and share quick pitches on the services they offer (see Partners and Speakers for information on who is attending).

 

2. Partner Q&A Sessions

After hearing from each of the partners, book up to three 20-minute sessions where they will share further information on their services, and explore whether the offer is right for you.

 

3. Next Steps

You will leave equipped with an understanding of the suitable services for your business growth, how they work and what you need to do next, plus contact information and an email roundup of all the support for reference.

 

Join us on 24 May and find the right support and tools to help you grow your business. 

 

In partnership with

 


 

Agenda

 

17:00 - 17:30

 

Arrival

 

Food, networking and partner exhibition

17:30 - 17:40

Welcome and Introductions

Steve Garcia, DIT, & Milton Brown, Kirklees TV

17:40 - 18:10

Speed Networking

All partners and DIT (4x 5 min)

18:10 - 18:20

Break

Networking and partner exhibition

18:20 - 19:20

Partner Q&A Sessions

Booked roundtable sessions with delegates' selected partners (3x 20 min)

19:20 - 19:30

Next Steps and Close

Steve Garcia, DIT Yorkshire and the Humber

Location

Lawrence Batley Theatre

Cellar Theatre

Queen St

Huddersfield

HD1 2SP

Partners and Speakers

Gill Watson
SME Growth Manager,  Leeds Local Enterprise Partnership

Gill's role is to help small and medium sized enterprises to navigate the business support landscape which can help with the various aspects of their growth. As the support landscape is constantly shifting it can be difficult for businesses to keep up to date, so the guidance and support she offers can leave businesses free to concentrate on doing what they do best

Gill’s aim is to build a relationship with the business and to gain an understanding of its plans, then a bespoke package of one-to-one tailored advice is outlined and includes the various types of support which the business is eligible to access. The Growth Manager service is free and provides impartial access to all of the publicly funded business support available in the Leeds City Region. This includes products delivered directly by the Leeds City Region Local Enterprise Partnership and by its local, regional and national partners (such as DIT). The support is accessed in different ways with Gill’s continued guidance and knowledge of the different processes which each programme uses, so that the business understands what to expect and what their customer journey will look like.

Businesses have accessed grants to help make digital purchases, to connect to innovation grants to help test new products being developed, to access grants to “buy in” consultancy support, to access free energy audits and grants to put energy saving measures in place to help reduce their energy bills and carbon footprint plus much more. In return those businesses have grown, created local job opportunities and provided economic benefits for our local Kirklees area.


 

Mildred Talabi
Networks Development Manager, Be the Business

Our mission at Be the Business is to empower small business owners in the UK to build productive and profitable businesses in the digital economy. In partnership with Mastercard, our Strive programme aims to provide practical business support – particularly in the areas of digital adoption and leadership and management – to micro and small business owners from Black, Asian and other ethnic minority backgrounds.

We do this through free access to digital resources on our online platform and through our free personalised mentoring and Advisory Board programmes. We’re on a mission to support 1,000 ethnic minority small business leaders this year, so if this sounds like a good fit for you, find out more via our website here – www.bethebusiness.com/strive-uk.

Mildred Talabi oversees the Be the Business Strive programme, which provides free digital, mentoring and Board advisory support to micro and small business owners from Black, Asian and other ethnic minority communities. 


 

Milton Brown
CEO, Kirklees Local TV

Established in 2011, KLTV is a popular and well respected social enterprise media production and news resource. We work within the private, public, voluntary and third sectors. We're keen to share how we can work with local businesses and individuals to produce the best possible outcomes for your organisation.

We collaborate and support our clients to ensure that KLTV always creates outstanding, engaging visual messages through video production and multi-media that positions your organisation exactly where you need to be – right in front of your audience.

Our services include Studio Video Production Services, Location and Documentary Film Production Services, Conference promotional video Production Services, Marketing Video Production Services, Client Testimonial Video Production Service.

KLTV guarantees high-quality digital impact, longevity and prosperity for all our clients. No matter your budget, timescale, or stage you're at with your media campaign. We can work with you from concept creation through pre and post-production, making your vision a reality.

Milton is the current CEO of Kirklees Local TV, one of KLTV's primary tasks is to digitally showcase and amplify minority and marginalised groups' cultures and voices. In 2020, Kirklees local TV achieved the national Community Archive Heritage Group Award for Preserving Community Heritage, the best diverse business, and best project at the inaugural Kirklees Inclusion and Diversity Awards.


 

Steve Garcia
International Trade Adviser Team Manager, Department for International Trade

The Department for International Trade (DIT) has overall responsibility for promoting UK trade across the world and attracting foreign investment to our economy. We are a specialised government body with responsibility for negotiating international trade policy, supporting businesses, as well as delivering an outward-looking trade diplomacy strategy.

Our aim is to help more Yorkshire and the Humber businesses make exporting work for them. We want to inspire businesses in Yorkshire and the Humber to seize the growth that exporting can bring. Our International Trade Advisers have a commercial background and a wealth of knowledge and experience working with businesses. They offer impartial advice and we have dedicated market and sector specialists to help your business.

Steve Garcia leads a team of advisers providing export support to business across the Yorkshire and the Humber region. A number of International Trade Advisers with various sector and market specialisms will also be joining the event on the day, to meet delegates and offer their expert advice.


 

Tim Gillies
Business Advisor, Ad:Venture

AD:VENTURE Growth Programme provides ambitious start-ups that are under 3 years old with a tailored programme of support to help them grow their business and create jobs. The programme will provide access to a dedicated business advisor who can guide you through your start up and growth journey offering practical advice, connections and help in accessing finance, including Growth Grants of up to £25,000. AD:VENTURE also run a calendar of events that help with developing new skills, increasing efficiency, improving strategy, and will add value to your business, giving you and your team the tools needed to improve performance.

Tim Gillies works with pre-start and start-up businesses in the Leeds City Region that are below 3 years old, primarily trade business to business and are wanting to grow and create jobs. Tim can advise on business planning, financial forecasting, marketing, sales and recruitment, as well as help businesses understand the complex landscape of business support.

Don't miss this opportunity to find out about the expert support available and take your next steps to growing your business.