Help for SMEs Accessing Finance
A2F gives companies throughout Cambridgeshire, Peterborough, Norfolk, Suffolk and Essex direct access to some of the UK’s top business coaches for one-to-one guidance. It is designed to support companies with the capability to double their turnover in the next 3-5 years by offering specialist finance coaching. A2F also includes regular Master classes covering business planning, pitching for investment and applying for grants to help businesses optimise their investment proposition and maximize their chances of raising finance.
St John’s Innovation Centre is the obvious choice to deliver A2F. In the last 4 years, the team - which includes successful entrepreneurs, investors, former bankers, grant experts and sector specialists has supported companies in raising over £17M inequity, bank and grant finance with sums raised ranging from £10,000 to £4M. Managing Director David Gill recently co-authored Show me the money: How to raise the cash to get your business off the ground now being reprinted after selling out in 6 months.
David Gill, Managing Director at St John’s Innovation Centre, said: “Adding A2F was an obvious move for us. Many innovative firms with the highest potential need external funding to scale fast. They form our natural client base, so we’ve built up a pool of seasoned and successful coaches to deliver finance readiness advice. But the great advantage of us also offering Business Development Coaching is that we can likewise serve ambitious firms for whom funding is not the priority.”
St John’s team of highly experienced Growth Managers has been the regional delivery partner for GrowthAccelerator’s Business Development Coaching stream since 2012 and has helped over 160 local companies to accelerate their growth, avoid costly common pitfalls, developing new products, grow their team, or progress from strategy to implementation.
A2F is open to businesses registered in England with fewer than 250 employees and turnover below £40 million across many sectors. The coaching panel spans a broad range of expertise including high-tech, life sciences, telecoms, manufacturing, construction, logistics and food.
For further information about GrowthAccelerator go to http://www.growthaccelerator.com/ or contact St John’s Innovation
Centre to speak to a Growth Manager on 01223 422378 or [email protected]
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Notes to the Editor
Contact: Alex Short, St John’s Innovation Centre,
Email [email protected] Telephone 01223 422378
Interview Opportunities: Kirsten Masson or David Gill can be contacted through Alex to provide interviews on request
Logo and Visual Material: St John’s Innovation Centre and Growth Accelerator logos are available on request.
About St John’s Innovation Centre (SJIC)
SJIC is a property-based incubator designed for knowledge-intensive enterprises in their early stages. It offers flexible accommodation alongside assistance with growing and running a business, especially the commercial exploitation of technology. It was founded by St John’s College, Cambridge, in 1987 and was the first innovation centre of its kind in Europe.
St John’s Innovation Centre has become widely known for its success as a business incubator offering experience, contacts, resources and a presence in the community. It is located at the heart of the Greater Cambridge technology cluster, in which it plays a pivotal role.
As a regional centre of excellence, SJIC supports high-growth businesses across the region and aims to provide the best strategic business advice, training and introductions for start-ups, micros and SMEs. The centre is currently delivering SJIC Training services via a combination of Leadership and Management training courses, bespoke training, master classes and workshops on topics relevant to growing businesses.
Membership of the European Business Network (EBN) enables St John’s to make targeted contacts with similar firms overseas for its clients (and vice versa) as part of a ‘soft landing’ programme.
For further information please see www.stjohns.co.uk