IoD Better Director Series - The financial landscape post-election for SMEs
Hot on the heels of the new government’s first budget, and in support of the upcoming Global Entrepreneurship Week, this event will share insights and perspectives on the financial landscape for SMEs.
Join us as the IoD’s Chief Economist Anna Leach and the Bank of England’s deputy agent for Greater London Lai Wah Co evaluate the recent budget and the status of the economy.
They will share perspectives on the macroeconomy, as well as the Bank view, always with the impact on UK business leaders in mind. Our panel will include a range of experts from both the financial and business sectors. They’ll be giving us the scoop on real world solutions to funding challenges throughout every stage of the process: from startup to exit.What are the challenges most frequently faced by SME owners and directors? What is cited as the key reason for business failure? Unsurprisingly perhaps, the answers to both these questions typically relate to finance. This Better Director series event will aim to cover topics including:
- access to funding
- attracting top talent
- managing cashflow, low profitability and ever-increasing costs
- supply chain squeeze
- absence of strategic thinking
- lack of marketing and brand awareness
- increased competition
From the backdrop of the UK's new economic setting, we will practically explore the vast and varied world of funding to explore what support is out there to give UK business a boost for much-needed growth.
You will have the chance to ask your own questions, connect with fellow directors and meet representatives from the IoD team, as well as indulging in some refreshments laid on by our hosts at Royal Holloway University of London. Following the panel discussion, there will be an opportunity to join one of two speed networking sessions giving you the chance to discuss the related content and make meaningful connections. Watch this space for speaker announcements in the coming weeks and register now for your opportunity to join the discussion.
Please kindly note that the event will be making a donation to the IoD Surrey Branch Charity, the Kent, Surrey, Sussex Air Ambulance Service.
Speakers
Anna Leach, Chief Economist, IoD
Anna is a macroeconomics and policy professional, and was most recently Deputy Chief Economist at the CBI. She brings a wealth of experience in macroeconomic and business survey analysis, as well as policy analysis and strategic planning. Anna previously worked in the Government Economic Service in various roles at the Department for Work and Pensions and HM Treasury.
Dr Ben Spencer MP
Dr Ben Spencer MP, Shadow Minister for Mental Health, Prevention and Public Health & MP for Runnymede & Weybridge. Dr Ben Spencer MP was appointed Shadow Minister for Mental Health, Prevention and Public Health in July 2024. Prior to this, he was Deputy Chair of the Conservative Party. Ben worked as an NHS Doctor for over 10 years, specialising in mental health, prior to his election to Parliament as MP for Runnymede and Weybridge in 2019.
James McGregor - Director P10 Financial Group
James McGregor is currently Director at P10 Financial Group. P10 Financial advises high net worth clients, high growth businesses and property entrepreneurs. We provide connected services across the entire financial spectrum, through our various business divisions of mortgages, capital advisory, accountancy and insurance. P10 has a real niche in delivering advisory services for SME owner operators usually with turnover levels of £1m - £20m.
Since setting up the business in 2015 P10 Financial Group have structure over £1Billion of lending transactions. This has been to help a huge range of businesses including M&A transactions, debt restructuring and multiple other areas of debt advisory.
Jarmila Yu, IoD Surrey Branch Chair & Panel Moderator
Founder and MD of YUnique Marketing Ltd, Jarmila Yu, is a globally ranked Top100 CMO, a Chartered Marketer, and a Top50 Business Advisor. A multi award-winning businesswoman, Jarmila is passionate about forging strong links between business and education, and is a champion for marketing excellence to drive economic growth.
Having spent 25 years building her career in companies ranging from start-ups to some of the world’s largest brands, she then established her marketing consultancy in 2016 making it her mission to provide the CMO Advantage to support ambitious SMEs to achieve dramatic results and growth. She has since guided multiple companies to grow from start up to scale up and scale up to major player in their segment.
Jarmila proudly serves as Chairman of the Surrey Branch of the IoD, the International Advisory Board at the School of Business & Management at Royal Holloway University of London and the Talent Committee at the DMA.
Lai Wah Co - Bank of England
Lai is an economist with 23 years’ experience. She’s works in the Greater London team within the Bank of England’s Agency Network. Lai and her agency network colleagues collect economic intelligence from businesses and organisations to brief policymakers at the Bank of England. She previously worked in the team at the Bank of England that produces the short-term UK GDP forecast. Prior to joining the Bank in 2011, Lai worked at the CBI, where she headed up a team of economists covering the UK and International macro-economy.
Patricia Huertas - Surrey County Council
Patricia Huertas is the Head of Economic Programmes at Surrey County Council, with over 15 years of experience in economic development, place leadership, and change management. She previously led commercial business improvements at the Natural History Museum and town centre regeneration for the London Borough of Hounslow. Her background includes roles in international trade, with experience in China and India, and other disciplines such as business support and innovation programmes. Patricia holds academic credentials in international management and cultural tourism development. She is passionate about community development work and has held several trustee roles supporting links between community groups and industry.
Professor Christos Tsinopoulos
Professor Tsinopoulos is the Executive Dean of School of Business and Management since 2022. He joined Royal Holloway after a very long stint at Durham University Business School where, among many other things, he was the Head of Department and the Associate Dean for External Engagement. His work aims to explore questions which are practical, relevant and deliver impact. He has been working with practitioners, international scholars, and professional organisations to identify questions that are relevant, and apply rigorous methodological techniques to address them. His work is published at the world class journals has led to constant stream of funding.
Yemi Oluseun - Founder & CEO, The Change Hive
Business Growth & Automation Strategist | US Department of State Innovation Fellow
Yemi Oluseun is a seasoned expert in business growth, digital transformation, and automation. As the Founder & CEO of The Change Hive, she specialises in helping service-based businesses achieve sustainable growth and enhanced exit valuations through automated marketing, sales, and operational systems.
Yemi brings over 15 years of experience working with financial services companies, guiding them through complex transformations. Her expertise has been honed through leadership roles at global organisations, mentorship with Stanford Seed and the UK Help to Grow programme, and advisory work with The Growth Company. Yemi is also a US Department of State Innovation Fellow and has been recognized as one of the UK’s Top 100 Women in Technology.
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/yemioluseun/
Sponsors
Royal Holloway, University of London
Royal Holloway, University of London, is in the top 30 of all UK universities. We were founded over 170 years ago to provide equity in opportunity, to transform lives through education and create positive change – doing this with bravery, curiosity and care. We have the courage and conviction to think differently, providing a platform to challenge conventions.
With combined and integrated strengths in innovative education and transformative research, we have a passion to create, teach and share knowledge in both established and emerging areas. Through our impactful research, we seek creative solutions to complex challenges to make a real difference in the world. We are a place for growth. We aim to empower individuals and transform lives through inclusive education, an active, and close-knit community, and partnerships that link us with local and global industry and culture.
We are a University of Social Purpose, creating positive change, for what matters – for our students, for society and for the world.
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