For the Love of Money
Every business deserves a little love – and that includes the right investment to help it grow.
Whether you’re a one-person powerhouse, a family-owned gem, a start-up dreamer, or an established operation looking for a boost, there’s a world of funding options waiting for you.
This Valentine’s Day, fall in love with your business’s potential and discover how to fund your future.
Why you can’t miss this
From traditional loans and grants, to creative options like crowd funding and angel investors, there are countless ways businesses – big or small – can secure the funding they need. The key is finding the perfect match for your goals and vision.
This event will guide you through the options, brought to life with personal insights from real business owners who’ve navigated the funding world and are now thriving. Held at Barclays HQ, a prestigious venue designed for business opportunities, it’s the ideal backdrop to explore your options and meet experts here to help take your business to the next level.
What to expect:
- Overview of funding options. We’ll give you a minute on each funding choice so you can consider what might be right for you.
- Panel discussion. Join experienced business owners, funders and BIC experts for a lively conversation about real-world funding advice and success stories.
- Networking opportunities. Meet face-to-face with experienced funders including Northstar Ventures, NEL Fund Managers and Barclays, as well as BIC experts, and fellow entrepreneurs. Whether you’re seeking advice, exploring opportunities or looking for that next business soulmate, there’s someone for everyone.
- Market Day pop-ups. Don’t miss the chance to pick up some treats from traders supported by the BIC, including The Cherry Tree and Roker Park Memories.
Sign up now For the Love of Money and let’s build the future of your business – together.
Meet the speakers
John Forth (Host)
Business Adviser, North East BIC
John is passionate about sharing his 25 years’ experience of entrepreneurship to help others reach their goals and maximise their potential via coaching, mentoring, training and networking. In his role as event host, he creates a fun and collaborative environment that gets to the heart of the issues you really want to know about.
Paul Callaghan
Chairman, The Leighton Group
As a serial entrepreneur, Paul has raised all types of finance to power the growth of his international business portfolio and will share personal insights of the experience. He founded the Leighton Group, which includes Leighton, Salecycle, Workcast, and Footy.com. He also chairs publishing company My World and hospitality chain Pub Culture.
Louise Allcroft
CEO & Co-founder, Complement Genomics
Molecular biologist Louise launched her business at the BIC 25 years ago with a vision to truly take DNA testing to the general public. Investment, including finance from Barclays, has enabled the company to grow and remain innovative, bringing forward services in areas as diverse as clinical trials and non-human species identification.
Connor Greig
CEO & Co-founder, OneClickCompany
Connor’s high-growth cybersecurity start-up (formerly known as Fat32) helps businesses get compliant in minutes, not months. Business aspirations are powered by Connor’s passion for innovation and emerging technologies, along with experience in IT consultancy and project management. Growth is financed with venture capital from Northstar Ventures.
Kirsty Geany
Business Relationship Leader, Barclays
As the current leader of the North East & North Yorkshire SME team at Barclays, Kirsty works daily with the region’s businessowners to support their growth. In her 23 years with the bank, she has worked in telephony, relationship management, branch network and business banking, accruing a wealth of experience about the needs of customers.
Michael McCabe
Founder, Intelligence Fusion
Michael built and scaled a globally recognised threat intelligence platform. He secured partnerships with Fortune 500 companies and led the company through a multi-million-pound acquisition by Sigma7 in 2022. He now advises security and intelligence businesses and is involved in a non-profit initiative focused on industrial asset protection.
Eligibility
Growth Lab events are fully funded by the BIC’s Enterprising Sunderland programme so priority is given to businesses in the Sunderland City Council area. Not based in Sunderland? Click the link above to pop your name on the waiting list and we’ll be in touch if there’s space. We’d love to see you there if possible!
Join our mailing list
To join the Growth Lab mailing list please sign up here.
Growth Lab Sunderland
The session is part of Growth Lab Sunderland, a new event series designed to inspire and empower Sunderland-based business owners and leaders with ambition to grow.
Held in a fun, friendly and inclusive environment, the events take place at different venues across the Sunderland City Council area and feature local businesspeople sharing how they introduced innovative ways to survive and thrive.
“It’s really inspiring to be in a roomful of people, bubbling with enthusiasm, ideas and solutions.”
Steve Nicholas, Managing Director, iqms Learning
Come along to:
- Learn from others who’ve been there and done it
- Shortcut to what works and what doesn’t
- Ask the questions you need answered
- Share your own insights
- Get introductions to useful new contacts
- Discover new opportunities and new ways to adapt
Book your place
Growth Lab Sunderland: Fund your business with confidence
For the Love of Money
14th February 2025, 9:30-12:30
Once your place is booked, we’ll be in touch for a few extra details required by our funders UK Shared Prosperity Fund.
As a fully funded programme for Sunderland businesses, we need to check eligibility and ask you to complete a short registration form. Thank you!
