NFBP is investigating the creation of a forest finance network, where investors and entrepreneurs can be introduced, and where business expertise can be incubated.

Accessing finance remains one of the  major challenges for all types of business throughout the UK, and specifically in the New Forest.   Many successful business people and potential investors live in our area and NFBP believes they would like to be able to help local entrepreneurs with great ideas.

The new world of alternative finance is populated by exciting new web-based platforms for both peer-to-peer lending and crowdfunding along with help for local companies with loans and raising equity.  Start ups and smaller businesses, however, are not so able to tap into these new resources and often still struggle to get established and grow.

At NFBP’s April event led by journalist David Stevenson of the Financial Times,  50 local businesses learnt how alternative funding solutions are providing significant opportunities to fill the gaps left by the traditional banking system.   At the close of the event, NFBP was identified as a potential local framework that might develop a range of alternative finance solutions to benefit local New Forest business start-ups, bridging loans, development loans and even high risk investments. 

This follow-up event will explore how this can be achieved through facilitated discussion over breakfast.   It will cover such key issues as

“Is the perceived finance and angel investment network actually available locally?”
“What are the local needs for alternative finance and are they about start-ups, bridging loans, development loans and high risk investment?”
“What type of local framework would best connect potential investors with local business needs?”
“Are we inventing yet another investment group just to create a New Forest identity?”
“If not, what role should NFBP play in the whole exercise? ”

So, if you are one of the many ambitious and imaginative local entrepreneurs, who would like to grow your business – or you are interested in helping incubate and invest in the New Forest business community please join us for breakfast on Thursday 9 July at Balmer Lawn Hotel from 7:30am – 9.30am.

AGENDA
07:30 – Registration & Breakfast
08:00 – Welcome:  Anthony Climpson, Employment & Tourism Manager, NFDC
08:05 – Introduction: David Stevenson, Journalist, Financial Times
08:10 – Table discussion
08:40 – Table report-back
09:00 – Consensus and agreement on next steps
09:10 – Networking
09:30 – Finish