Surrey Business School is working on business solutions across the spectrum, with start-ups to blue chip companies, to develop business know-how using innovative teamwork techniques in our new Business Insights Lab.
The lab draws together research, teaching, brokering and problem solving, tapping in on our strengths across the University, to foster new business innovation strategies. The Business Insights Lab is designed for the Digital Age, we don’t just study theory; we shape and develop new practice through collaboration and experimentation.
Furthermore, innovation has never been as important for business as it is today with challenges including slow economic growth, technology advances, globalisation and, more recently, Brexit. In turn, governments are increasingly looking to small and medium size companies (SME’s) to lead this charge for economic and job growth.
However, the biggest challenge to innovation is funding. How do companies finance growth? What kind of finance should they consider? What are the changes in the financing landscape over the past year and what may they be, as we look to the future?
For these reasons, Access to Business Funding Forum, an event organised by the Surrey Business School in conjunction with Surrey Chambers of Commerce, could not have been more relevant and proved to be a big success with more than 80 attendees.
The panel included Business Growth Fund, Crowdcube, FSE Group, Alternative Business Funding, UK Export Finance, Santander Bank and many more.
The event looked at a broader context for funding innovation, from traditional sources such as debt and equity to other means such as tax credits, grants and pension-led borrowing. Another way we are connecting people to valuable business expertise is through our Surrey MBA Mentoring Programme; pairing students with a mentor relevant to their sector, profession and personality. Our mentors are experienced executives, CEOs and leaders from technology, engineering, marketing, business and third sector industries.
Paul Stone, Former Vice President Strategy & Portfolio, Shell International and Surrey Business School Advisory Board member said: “My mentee has been a delight to work with, always keen to meet up or chat with over Skype and delve into areas of interest. Having the chance to work with one of today’s professionals as their mentor is stimulating and keeps you in touch with today’s business realities.”
If you would like to attend the next Access to Business Funding Forum in October or would like to enquire about mentoring or research opportunities, please get in touch with Abi Bradbeer, Business Manager sbs@surrey.ac.uk.
You can also access our new Executive Education leadership courses which have been developed together with our new Centre for Leadership and Decision-Making. Please get in touch with Erin Mcleod, Executive Education Manager, e.mcleod@surrey.ac.uk.
