Access to finance with the Help to Grow: Management Course (London)
Wed 1st October 2025
Access to finance with the Help to Grow: Management Course
The Help to Grow: Management Course is hosting this event as part of Business Finance Week, an annual campaign led by the British Business Bank. The campaign features a wide range of events across the UK including in-person sessions and webinars designed to help smaller businesses explore the various finance options available to support their unique needs.
As part of this year’s campaign, we’re hosting an event in London tailored for SME business leaders who want to scale confidently and build resilience. This event will introduce you to some of the key financial avenues available to small businesses, help you understand some of the tools and methodologies to implement finance effectively, and allow you to network with like-minded peers.
Agenda
18:00 Doors open
Refreshments.
18:05 Welcome address
Flora Hamilton CEO, Chartered Association of Business Schools
18:10 qodeo – myth busting
Qodeo’s platform connects more than 7,300 venture capital and private equity firms with entrepreneurs. Its proprietary algorithm automatically identifies the best funding opportunities, saving users both time and money.
Simon will share some tips and insights from Qodeo’s successful ‘fundraising mythbusting’ workshops, that has been delivered at Cambridge University to Iceland and Bermuda. He’ll focus on how to navigate the 11 ‘anti-intuitive’ pitfalls that SME leaders often overlook, waste resources and money on, or miss opportunities because of – helping you kiss fewer frogs!
Simon Glass CEO and Director, Qodeo
18:30 Introduction to the Help to Grow: Management Course
Glen Cookson has been involved in the delivery of the Help to Grow: Management Course since its inception, helping to champion participants in the classroom and beyond. Glen will give you a course overview, with a focus on outputs, and introduce alumni from the programme who will give you first-hand testimonials.
Glen Cookson Senior Lecturer in Accounting, Sheffield Hallam University
18:55 tide: access to finance
This session will introduce Tide, explain why alternative funders exist, and give a clear overview of loans, asset finance, invoice finance, and other funding routes available to SMEs. He’ll share real customer stories, outline what “funding ready” looks like – from building a strong credit profile to providing the right documentation – and show how their technology, expert brokers, and lender network help small businesses secure the best funding outcomes.
Stuart Lawson Chief Commercial Officer, Funding Options by Tide
19:15 Networking
Refreshments and networking.
20:30 Doors close
Please note: speakers, timings or format of our events may change due to circumstances beyond our control. We will inform delegates of any changes at the earliest opportunity.
Please note: The views expressed by event participants are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of or the British Business Bank. Always seek independent, professional advice tailored to your individual circumstances.
About our Speakers
Glen Cookson Senior Lecturer in Accounting, Sheffield Hallam University
Flora Hamilton CEO, Chartered Association of Business Schools
Simon Glass CEO and Director, Qodeo
Stuart Lawson Chief Commercial Officer, Funding Options by Tide
Delivered by:
Funded by:
In collaboration with:
