NACFB Funding Future Growth – Supporting brokers across the North West
Join us in Manchester
Does your firm source finance for SME clients in the North West? Or are you looking to expand your brokerage’s reach in the region? Whether you’re an experienced operator or just seeking to learn more, the NACFB’s second Funding Future Growth event of the year, held at Manchester’s Voco Hotel, could be for you.
Spaces are limited to ensure that meaningful connections are made, and brokers are encouraged to register early to secure their spot. Please note, this is a broker-only event. Any NACFB lender Patrons interested in attending in a sponsorship capacity are asked to contact the events team.
What to expect…
Free for brokers to attend, including lunch and refreshments, the event brings together commercial intermediaries, lenders, suppliers and leading national trade bodies to explore growth opportunities for small businesses throughout the North West. Here’s what you can expect from the session:
Agenda
10:00 – Registration and networking
Tea and coffee to be served
10:45 – Key address from the NACFB
With Jim Higginbotham
NACFB CEO Jim Higginbotham will kick off the session with an update on the Association’s 2024 survey. He will also share insights into our ongoing activities, key focuses, horizon planning and the central topics currently impacting the commercial finance community.
10:55 – Compliance and regulation update
With Sarah Cunningham
Sarah Cunningham, NACFB’s head of compliance, will provide an update on current regulations and any further compliance updates affecting brokers and lenders in the room. This provides an opportunity to ask any questions and keep up to date on current affairs.
11:10 – British Business Bank Handbook
With Delyth Edwards
An insightful segment on the new ‘British Business Bank Handbook’ – a product awareness guide for intermediaries such as brokers / accountants to give them an overview of the key products the bank offers all in one place.
11:15 – Discussion and debate
Kieran Jones, NACFB head of communications and advocacy, will be hosting a small panel of experts who will share regional insights. The panel session will feature Theodora Hadjimichael from Responsible Finance, Mike Geddes from AFS, Jonathan Witter from Assetz Capital, and Delyth Edwards from the British Business Bank. Crucial to sourcing appropriate funding solutions, brokers will be encouraged to participate, so come with questions!
11:45 – NACFB Partner session
Delegates will gain insight from Natalie Collins, Global Key Partnerships Manager, from NACFB Partner TorFX.
12:00 – Lenders and suppliers
Representatives from selected lender Patrons, Assetz Capital, Atom Bank, Cambridge and Counties Bank, The Co-Operative Bank, Haydock Finance, Lloyds Bank, NatWest, Praetura, Reward Funding , Shawbrook Bank, and YBS Commercial Mortgages will also be in attendance. Chosen for the value they add to the modern commercial finance broker, there will be plenty of time to meet and learn about their offerings. The lenders are particularly keen to find out more about your clients’ funding requirements, so do bring potential deals with you to chat through on the day.
12:15 – Lunch and a listening ear
Lunch is served. A further opportunity to network with brokers, panel experts and members of the NACFB team.
13:00 – Event concludes
Speakers
-
Delyth EdwardsSenior Manager - British Business BankDelyth represents the British Business Bank’s UK Network in North West England as Senior Manager. She focuses on working closely with funding delivery partners, business development agencies and other organisations across the region to help the Bank to understand and overcome the challenges smaller businesses face in their access to finance journey, and to improve their access to financial support.
-
Jim HigginbothamCEO - NACFBJim Higginbotham, the newly appointed CEO of the NACFB, brings over 30 years of commercial finance expertise to the role. Most recently Group CEO at STAR Asset Finance, Jim led transformative growth, centralised operations, and reinforced risk management. His senior roles at Lombard, Barclays, and GE Capital have given him a broad industry perspective. Jim is dedicated to strengthening NACFB’s support for its Members and Patrons while championing professionalism and high standards across the UK’s commercial finance sector.
-
Jonathan WitterDevelopment Monitoring Director – Assetz CapitalJonathan is a Chartered Surveyor with over 25 years’ experience. At Assetz Capital his focus is to advise on development monitoring, development finance, planning, and valuations on a national level.
Prior to Assetz Capital, Jonathan was a Director at a Family Office, a Senior valuer for Commerzbank in Paris, valuing residential and commercial property assets with portfolio values of up to EUR 4bn and development monitoring. He was also a Development Strategist at London and Continental Railways, advising on two of the largest urban mixed-use redevelopment projects in Europe, namely the London Olympics and King’s Cross Central/Eurostar. -
Mike GeddesGroup Legal & Compliance Director - AFSI have been in the finance industry since 1993, working at Barclays, Lloyds, and ING before joining AFS in 2006, where I met Nick and Justin. Over the years, my role has evolved significantly, including establishing AFS Compliance in 2014 and launching Synergy Commercial Finance in 2016. Today, as Group Legal & Compliance Director, I oversee approximately 250 Appointed Representatives, who are set to provide around £2 billion in finance in 2025. I feel fortunate to work with such a dedicated team, and together, we continuously enhance our compliance capabilities to ensure that AFS and Synergy Network members consistently exceed the expectations of customers, lenders, and regulators.
-
Natalie CollinsGlobal Key Partnerships ManagerWith an impressive tenure of 9 years at TorFX, Natalie Collins has been instrumental in managing the company’s largest partnerships across the globe. Natalie has shaped and led teams of partnership managers who assist individual advisors and their customers.
Specialising in professional services such as Wealth Management, Corporate Finance & Accountancy, Natalie excels in helping businesses scale their relationships with TorFX. Her dedication ensures that as many customers as possible benefit from this valuable relationship, while ensuring the partner gets the most out of working with one of the industry’s most trusted Foreign Exchange companies.
-
Sarah CunninghamHead of Compliance - NACFBSarah Cunningham, Head of Compliance and Assurance at the NACFB, Sarah has worked in Compliance for both lenders and brokers.
-
Theodora HadjimichaelChief Executive
