NACFB Funding Future Growth – Supporting brokers across the Midlands
Join us in Birmingham
Does your firm source finance for SME clients in the Midlands? 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 final Funding Future Growth event of 2025, held at The Grand Hotel in Birmingham, 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. Booking priority is given to NACFB Member brokers. 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 Midlands. 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.
11:00 – Compliance and regulation update
With Sarah Cunningham
Sarah Cunningham, the NACFB’s head of compliance, will update the room 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.
11:15 – Discussion and debate
A panel of experts from national organisations including Lewis Stringer from the British Business Bank, Matthew Taylor from Shawbrook Bank, Becky Owen from Leonard Curtis and Mike King from Simply Asset Finance will share regional insights on both the challenges and opportunities for small businesses. Crucial to sourcing appropriate funding solutions, brokers will be encouraged to participate, so come armed with questions!
11:45 – NACFB Partner session
Presentation by Josh Wilson from the NACFB Partner supplier Purbeck Personal Guarantee Insurance.
12:00 – Lenders and suppliers
Representatives from selected lender Patrons Alternative Bridging Corporation, BCRS Business Loans, Bibby Finance, Coventry & Warwickshire, Flex ABL, GC Business Finance, HSBC UK, Metro Bank, Momenta Finance, Triodos Bank and Ultimate Finance 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, lenders, panel experts and members of the NACFB team.
13:00 – Event concludes
Speakers
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Becky OwenHead of Funding, Leonard Curtis -
Jim HigginbothamCEO, NACFB
Jim 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.
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Lewis StringerSenior Manager, British Business Bank
The British Business Bank is the UK’s economic development bank. Our mission is to drive sustainable growth and prosperity across the UK, and to enable the transition to a net zero economy, by improving access to finance for smaller businesses. The Bank delivers a series of debt and equity programmes across the UK supported by over 200 Delivery Partners.
Lewis Stringer joined the British Business Bank in October 2016 as the MEIF Senior Relationship Manager, covering the East and South-East Midlands and worked on the Bank’s high-profile Covid-19 response initiatives. He currently works in the UK Network Team for the Bank as a Senior Manager, covering the East & South-East Midlands and supporting demand-side initiatives, as well as the recently launched £400m Midlands Engine Investment Fund (MEIF) II.
Lewis has over 25 years’ experience in economic development including two years at Capital for Enterprise Limited (the Bank’s predecessor), where he worked in the Debt Team on the Enterprise Finance Guarantee (EFG) scheme and former RDA legacy funds, ten years at East Midlands Development Agency (emda) in the Business Investment Team, where he managed a team and a series of grant, loan and equity funds, and investment readiness programmes, and five years at Nottingham City Council. Lewis also has over five years commercial and personal banking experience with Lloyds Banking Group.
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Matthew TaylorHead of Sales, Northwest Midlands and South, Shawbrook Bank
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Mike KingHead of Broker, Simply Asset Finance
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Sarah CunninghamHead of Compliance, NACFB
Sarah Cunningham, Head of Compliance and Assurance at the NACFB, Sarah has worked in Compliance for both lenders and brokers.
