1. Financing the Start-up & Growth of your Social Firm or Social Enterprise Business Tracy Axten - Triodos Bank Niall Sweby - The Social Investment Business Brian Whittaker - Lankelly Chase Foundation Nigel Kershaw OBE - Big Issue Invest

2. The same funding options are available to social enterprises as traditional businesses, BUT may not be from the same provider... What has your experience been??

3. Requirements Sound Business Plan - proposition sustainable & ability to repay debt Management Team - Financial awareness, management, control Systems - capture required information, trends, cash flow etc Marketing - who are your customers, your niche?

4. Preparation before approaching a lender/funder How much do we need? Is it enough? how will we repay, over how long? Any implications? what is the Business Plan for next 3-5yrs? are our accounts up to date? Do I understand them? does my Board support, have experience in managing finance? do we have the skills to manage growth/activities, reporting etc? what would happen if we didn’t succeed in acquiring finance?

5. Support Available... Organisations: Social Firms UK, Social Enterprise Hubs, Red Ochre, Social Enterprise Business Support programme, Business Link. Social Investment Organisations Tools: NCVO - Funding Central, Business Link London, SEC, Social Enterprise Magazine, those above.

6. Finance Options... Grants - free money? No requirement to repay Loans - long term, require repayment, security, cost Over drafts - short term, require repayment, track record, cost Equity - repaid with premium, involvement & ownership of company taken Mixture of all above...

7. The Social Investment Business Niall Sweby Lankelly Chase Foundation Brian Whittaker Big Issue Invest Nigel Kershaw OBE

8. Triodos Bank NV (incorporated under the laws of the Netherlands with limited liability, registered in England and Wales BR3012). Authorised by the Dutch Central Bank (DNB) and regulated by the Financial Services Authority (FSA) for the conduct of UK business. Registered office: Brunel House, 11 The Promenade, Bristol BS8 3NN Tracy Axten, Triodos Bank. 07775 662968 tracy.axten@triodos.co.uk Niall Sweby, Social Investment Business. 07872 506342 niall.sweby@socialinvestmentbusiness.org Brian Whittaker, LankellyChase Foundation. 01235 820044 Nigel Kershaw OBE, Big Issue Invest. 02075263431