Meet the Fund Managers:
Are you wanting to know more about the latest finance and grants support to grow your business? If yes, then this event is for you.
Agenda:
- 08:00-08:30 Arrival Tea, coffee and breakfast bun or pastry.
- 08:30-10:00 Presentations.
- Introduction by Sue Harrison and Andy McKenna (5 mins)
- Presentation by Cat Smith (20mins)
- Presentation by Rachel Veitch‐Straw (20mins)
- Presentation by Linda Nguyenova (20mins)
- Question and answer session (25 mins)
- 09:30-10:00 Networking.
Price: FREE (refreshments available)
Venue: Mount Pleasant Hotel, Great North Road, Doncaster DN11 0HW
Speakers:
- Cat Smith, British Business Bank - Representing the British Business Bank across Yorkshire and Humber, Cat works closely with funding delivery partners, innovation specialists and business support organisations across the SME finance ecosystem to improve access to financial support for small businesses. Cat has previously worked for West Yorkshire Combined Authority, where she was innovation growth manager, and has over 10 years’ experience across Yorkshire and the Humber supporting businesses to up‐skill, access finance and develop innovation and strategic partnerships. Her experience has spanned senior roles at Calderdale College, Construction Industry Training Board and the Combined Authority, supporting the growth of a diverse range of businesses and sectors.
- Rachel Veitch‐Straw, Key Fund Investment - Rachel is an Investment Manager for Key Fund, supporting social enterprises and trading charities to receive blended finance in the form of loans with grants. Her role involves working with socially impactful businesses, looking at their business model, development plans, stability, and the daily difference they make to the lives of others. The common thread throughout Rachel’s career has been communication – key to her work at Key Fund, where the approach to finance is friendly yet focused. Rachel is passionate about Key Fund’s role in supporting social enterprises to make their difference, and she finds great satisfaction in meeting and supporting clients, and the people whose lives they help to change for the better.
- Linda Nguyenova, BGF - Linda’s role covers both deal origination and execution and she is currently a board observer at Arc Inspirations. Prior to joining BGF, Linda qualified as a chartered accountant at PwC, following which she spent nearly four years in the investment team at Endless LLP, a turnaround and special situations investor, where her board roles spanned across multiple businesses including Arran Aromatics, Go Plant, Findel Education and Carpet & Flooring. Linda is passionate about driving change and improving diversity and inclusion in the industry. Linda was recognised as one of the Future 40 Diversity and Inclusion Leaders by Real Deals and shortlisted for Emerging Dealmaker by the Insider Media. Linda leads the female founders initiative for BGF in the region to help make funding more accessible for under‐represented entrepreneurs.
