Delivered by UMi and national partner NatWest, this keynote will inspire and energise attendees with a forward-looking vision on finance, investment, and business growth. Expect cutting-edge insights and real-world success stories to set the stage for the event.

Session 1: Julie Cuthbertson, UMi

Get a plain-English guide to grants, debt, equity, blended finance, and alternative funding. Take part in a group game to de-jargonise funding language and learn how funders think about collateral, risk, and credibility. Then Map your business challenge using the Problem Tree exercise and see how different financial problems align with specific funding types. Learn about “risk signals” funders spot, such as lack of contracts or poor record-keeping.

Session 2: Funding Demystified: Understanding your Funding Options. Presented by Cameron Gordon, NatWest Accelerator.

This session provides a practical introduction to the NatWest Funding Accelerator, covering the full landscape of business funding options—non‑dilutive, dilutive, blended, and alternative—and helping founders understand which types best fit their stage of growth. It explains grants, competitions, crowdfunding, debt, and equity in plain English, outlining benefits, risks, and how each funding source is typically used, while also showing what lenders and investors look for, such as cash flow, security, scalability, team credibility, and market opportunity. The deck emphasises improving financial readiness by strengthening business plans, cash flow, and balance sheets, and highlights community learning, the role of the Accelerator App, and practical steps to become more fundable and investable as entrepreneurs progress through the programme.

You’ll leave with a shared glossary, more confidence using finance terms, and a better understanding of how to approach funders.