 READY, SET & PITCH!
📅 Thursday, 28 August | 🕙 10AM–1PM | 📍 Nottingham Central Library
Got a business idea you believe in? Think you could impress a panel like on Dragon’s Den? Now’s your chance!
Join us for a dynamic morning of live pitching, expert feedback, and networking. Whether you're seeking investment, strategic advice, or just want to sharpen your pitch, this event is for you.
👉 How It Works: After registering, we’ll ask for a one-page summary of your business idea. From there, we’ll help you craft a short, punchy pitch to present live on the day.
💡 What to Expect:
- Pitch your idea to a panel of experienced investors and entrepreneurs
- Receive expert feedback to refine your pitch and strategy
- Network with fellow founders and business leaders
- Get support to scale and grow your business
👥 Meet the Panel:
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Kirsty Sisson – Investor-readiness expert with 20 years of experience helping founders scale and secure funding
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Martin Sandhu – Founder of TICG, specialising in AI-driven innovation and capital-efficient growth
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Julie Warren – Finance specialist with 40+ years supporting SMEs with tailored funding solutions
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Lewis Stringer – Senior Manager at the British Business Bank, supporting Midland’s businesses with funding and growth strategies
 EMERGE RehabTech: Funding Round 1 Information Webinar
📅 Monday, 4 August | 🕙 11AM–12PM | 📍 Online
Join this information webinar hosted by EMERGE RehabTech, a Place-Based Impact Acceleration Account, to learn more about their first funding call.
Funding round 1 opens on 4th August and offers two funding streams:
- Concept Accelerator Account, up to £100k per project
- Feasibility Impact Primer, up to £50k per project
The webinar will cover key information including; important dates, scope of the call, application process and review criteria. There will also be an opportunity to ask questions during a live Q&A with the project team.
Overview of EMERGE RehabTech
📅 4 August – Call opens | 30 September – Submission deadline
Launch of the first funding call from EMERGE RehabTech, a new £2.5 million Place-Based Impact Accelerator Account, led by NTU. This programme supports projects that use rehabilitation technologies (RehabTech) to improve health outcomes, promote wellbeing, and grow the East Midlands RehabTech economy.
Concept Impact Accelerator – Up to £100k per project
Flagship projects focused on accelerating innovation and commercialisation of RehabTech products or services. This includes advancing through technology readiness levels, developing proof-of-concept demonstrators, and conducting market validation. Expected start date: 1 March 2026 | Duration: Up to 18 months
Feasibility Impact Primer – Up to £50k per project
Smaller, exploratory projects to test the feasibility of new RehabTech concepts. These should identify unmet clinical needs and market demand. Expected start date: 1 January 2026 | Duration: 6–12 months
Projects should tackle key regional challenges such as health inequalities, engagement in rehab programmes, and the gap between research and industry.
Starting in Business Programme Group 17
📅 13 & 14 August | 🕙9:30AM - 3:30PM | 📍 Online
This programme is available to individuals based in Nottingham City, Nottinghamshire, Lincoln City, Lincolnshire and Leicester City. *
This two-day programme of workshops led by one of our experienced business trainers will teach you the nuts and bolts of starting and running a successful business.
Over the course of the programme, we will cover:
- Knowledge, skills, and characteristics needed by successful business owners
- Sole trader, limited company, partnership – which is best for you?
- Your legal responsibilities as a business owner
- Marketing your business
- Understanding tax, National Insurance and VAT
- Record keeping and business banking
- Start up and running costs
- Planning your personal survival budget
- How to price your product or service
- Importance of cash flow forecasting for your business
GAME. SET. MATCH.
📅 Wednesday, 6 August | 🕙10AM - 4PM | 📍 Nottingham Trent University
A series of fast-paced workshops for early-stage businesses or established businesses looking to rapidly launch new products and services, that will prepare you for competing for business and raising future funding.
SET: Test, Learn, Adapt
6th August, 10:00 – 14:00
Methods for testing your market assumptions and using real feedback to refine your offer and improve your market fit.
MATCH: Hit your Targets
13th August, 10:00 – 14:00
Tackle your sales challenges and learn how to derive value from lost sales. Commit to your sales activity, set clear goals, stay accountable and build momentum.
 Practical Guide to Leadership and Management
📅 Wednesday, 6th August | 🕙9:30AM - 4PM | 📍 Antenna Nottingham
Introducing the essential leadership and management skills which must be mastered to facilitate growth of teams and a business.
After an overview of leadership and management we provide a framework to develop an attendee’s own leadership style in addition to the essential skills every manager should master. We end by providing practical tips to build and sustain a high performance team.
What’s covered:
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Definition of leadership and management
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The changing role of leadership and management in organisations (remote working, home working, managing staff and resources remotely) and in a volatile and complex world
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Framework to develop leadership and management skills
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Self awareness
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Communication
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Management mastery
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Building a high performance team
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Leadership Management style assessment
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The manager as a motivator
What outcomes will be achieved?
- Understanding of the difference between leadership and management
- Insights and areas to develop of your own leadership and management style
- Strategies which can be used immediately to increase your leadership and management effectiveness
Who should attend?
For business owners and managers, who are relatively new to leadership and management and are at the early stages of building and motivating a team.
Eligibility:
This workshop is open to established enterprises located in Derby, Derbyshire, Nottingham and Nottinghamshire.
Start Up Loan
What is a Start Up Loan?
Start Up Loans is a UK government-backed scheme by the British Business Bank, providing affordable funding to new businesses.
- Borrow between £500 - £25,000 per co-founder (up to 4 co-founders)
- Fixed interest rate of 6% per year
- Repay the loan over 1-5 years
- No arrangement or early repayment fees
- Free post-loan support
- Government-backed
- Unsecured personal loan for business purposes
Business Loan
What is a Business Loan?
First Enterprise provides business loans ranging from £25,001 to £250,000 through several regional funding sources, including the Midlands Engine Investment Fund II (MEIF II), Regional Growth Fund (RGF), and The Community ENABLE Funding (CEF). These partnerships with established financial institutions allow us to offer accessible financing solutions to small businesses across the UK.
- Borrow between £25,001 - £250,000
- Competitive interest rate
- Repay the loan over 1-5 years
- No early repayment fees
- An arrangement fee of 3.5%
- Growth Guarantee Scheme (GGS) support available
 Nottingham Accelerator
Business Support for Growth, Sustainability, and Innovation
The Nottingham Accelerator is a comprehensive business support project designed to help Nottingham-based businesses sustain, grow, and innovate. The programme is open to all existing businesses and will run until 31 March 2026.
Support Available
One-to-One Advice and Mentoring
Receive tailored guidance and diagnostic support across key areas of your business. Additional support is available for businesses investing in research and development.
Digital and Artificial Intelligence (AI)
Support to help your business embrace emerging technologies, including:
- Expert-led workshops and specialist advice
- Bespoke consultancy and training
- Guidance on adopting AI platforms and digital tools
Sustainability
Helping businesses transition to a greener future through:
- Green business skills workshops and tailored advice
- On-site energy audits
- Strategic planning for carbon reduction and net zero goals
Additional Support and Signposting
Businesses may also be referred to other relevant programmes, including:
- High Growth Accelerator
- Export Accelerator
- Help to Grow: Management
- Innovate UK Business Growth
- Create Growth
- Made Smarter East Midlands
Specialist Support from Local Experts
The Accelerator is supported by two dedicated specialists:
- Digital Transformation Specialist
- Manufacturing Adviser
These experts provide personalised account management and develop a Business Diagnostic Action Plan to guide each business on its growth journey.
Register Your Interest
If your business is based in Nottingham, registering is simple. Complete the form below, and a Business Adviser will contact you to learn more about your business and explore the most appropriate support options.
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