Event Information

Worcestershire County Council in partnership with Worcestershire Growth Hub are bringing together local businesses and Industry experts to present and discuss the current topics and challenges facing businesses.  

 

This Autumn's conference will focus on the topic of Financing Growth, Pitching for Investment, Managing Cash flow; Tips on Sustainability to Help Reduce Emissions and Costs, and R&D Tax Credits.

 

AGENDA

 

08:00am - Doors open for registration 

 

08:00am - Breakfast Networking for Attendees 

 

08:45 - Welcome 

 

08:50 - Managing Cashflow - Dave Perrigo, Director at Perrigo Consultants Limited 

 

Dave is a Chartered Tax Adviser and Chartered Accountant with 20 years’ experience in accountancy practice, tax consultancy and industry, previously as Finance Director of Serco Occupational Health and as a Tax Consultant at KPMG. 

 

 

09:15 - Preparation to Pitch for Finance - Steve Harris, Director at Central Finance 

 

Central Finance are leading independent Business Finance Advisors based in the West Midlands. They guide customers through the myriad of finance options and help them choose which is the appropriate solution.

 

09:35 - Sustainability & Running Cost Reduction - Alex Pearson, Net Zero Project Manager at Midlands Net Zero Hub 

 

Alex has a small team of energy project officers working in the West Midlands to assist in the identification and delivery of low carbon energy schemes for local authorities, Local Enterprise Partnerships and others.

 

Alex has worked in both Commercial / Industrial energy efficiency and renewable generation sectors and has a knowledge of the major technologies down to installation level. Alex is currently engaged on projects such as large-scale housing, building decarbonisation, heat networks, energy efficiency and carbon reduction plans.

 

10:00 - Break

 

10:30 - Research and Developments (R&D) Tax Credits- Chris Walklett, Tax Partner at Bishop Fleming Chartered Accountants 

 

The R&D Tax Credit regime has been an ever-present part of the UK tax code for over 20 years, injecting valuable funding into a wide range of innovative businesses. But abuses of the system, and criticism that the regime does not provide the taxpayer value for money, have led to a widescale rethink of the regime and how it is delivered. 

 

Business owners and finance directors need to be alive to the changing R&D tax credit climate, whether that be in the context of past or proposed claims to the relief.  Chris Walklett’s briefing will bring us up to date with the current regime, proposed changes and what to do to minimise the risk of future HMRC attention. 

 

11:00 - Exploring Financial Opportunities - Tracy Sherratt, Senior Manager at the British Business Bank 

 

Tracy Sherratt is the newly appointed Senior Manager in the British Business Bank's UK Network Team, covering the West Midlands. Tracy will be presenting on the finance options available to smaller businesses in the region through the British Business Bank and Midlands Engine Investment Fund. 

 

11:30 - An overview from Worcestershire County Council and the Worcestershire Growth Hub 

 

12:00pm - Networking 

 

13:00pm - End of conference

 

The conference is open to all businesses across the county of all sizes, from Start-ups to SMEs to large-scale corporations. 

 

Book your place for free now. 

To keep up to date with the latest information, ensure you follow the Council's social media channels on Twitter @BusinessWorcs and Worcestershire County Council LinkedIn and look out for posts using the official event hashtag #BusinessWorcConference22.

 

SPEAKERS