BBAA Annual Conference
14 July 2010, The Lowry Hotel, Manchester

Conference Programme

Facilitator: Stuart Rock, Founder and Editorial Director of Caspian Publishing (Real Deals and Real Business). 

09.30: Welcome from our hosts NWDA: Growth and Innovation in the Northwest Region, Robert Hough, Chairman, Northwest Development Agency.

09.40: Welcome from Anthony Clarke, Chair, BBAA – New Developments at the BBAA

09.50: Overview of programme and objectives for the day: A new era for growth and investment, by Stuart Rock

09.55: Key Note Speaker: Overview of the economic landscape for entrepreneurship and investing in the UK, by Professor Gordon Murray, Chair of Management, School of Business & Economics, University of Exeter

10.20: Panel debate: What will be the impact of the new coalition budget and policy for business growth and investment? Panel debate with representatives from angel and VC community, business and professional experts: John Ashcroft, CEO, Pro Manchester; Andrew Burton, Chair, YABA; Dr Penny Attridge, Investment Director, SPARK Ventures and Brian White, Tax Partner, Deloitte.

11.00: Coffee Break 

11.25: Guest Speaker: The state of the UK Venture Capital industry, Matthew Mead, Head of Investments, NESTA

11.45: Panel Session: Regional Funds present a great opportunity for Fund Managers, Entrepreneurs and Business Angels to work together - Is this a marriage made in Heaven?
A panel session moderated by Anthony Clarke, Chair, BBAA and lead by David Read, Head of Business Finance, Northwest Development Agency; Julian Viggars, Fund Manager, EV; Gaynor Dykes, Access to Finance Manager, BusinesslinkNW; Mark Hawkes, Serial Angel Investor, Stragenda and Richard Young, Fund Manager, EV.

12.30: Challenges and Opportunities for Building the UK Early Stage Venture Market Under the New Political Regime, Simon Walker, CEO, British Private Equity and Venture Capital Association BVCA

13.00:  Lunch

14.15: Key Note Address: Mark Prisk, Minister of State for Business and Enterprise. Q&A: Mark Turner, Head of SME Equity Finance, BIS: The Government's New Policy Agenda for Supporting Business Growth and Early Stage Investment.

14.45: Is Cleantech the new growth and investment opportunity for the era? A review of investment opportuntities within the cleantech sector lead by Adam Workman, Partner, Carbon Trust Investment Partners and Nick Storer, CEO, Envirolink NW. 

15.25: Panel Session: Valuation - the key to successful early stage investments? Valerie Joliffe, Javelin Ventures; Steve Barnett, Fox Williams and angel investor and David Belford will present their approaches to valuing investment deals, moderated by Stuart Rock, Founder and Editorial Director, Caspian Publishing, Real Deals & Real Business.

16.00: Audience Debate: What should the new government do to ensure the growth of the early stage investment market? - An opportunity for the audience to give their views and feedback to the BBAA.

16.30: Summary of the Day and Next Steps by Anthony Clarke, Chair, BBAA

16:45: Close of Conference – Tea and Networking