Some the of regions leading experts in business finance, technical support and grant funding are inviting local business men and women to a special free event next month.

The Science City Research Alliance (SCRA), a strategic union between expert researchers at University of Warwick and University of Birmingham, has teamed up with Connect Midlands to offer firms support and advice on subjects that can be difficult for firms to navigate.

Connect Midlands’s Richard Corner will start the ‘Right Funds for You’ special conference with a talk on ‘Sources of Finance’ before the University of Warwick’s Professor Pam Thomas, Director of SCRA, talks about  the technical support available to businesses through the SCRA programme.

There will also be sessions from Paul Heaven, from Blue Sky Corporate Finance about grants, bank and loan finance; Beer & Partners’ Steve McEwen on Business Angels and Tim Hazell, from Mercia Technology Seed Fund, will speak about Venture Capital.

After the delivered sessions there will also be an opportunity for networking and a chance to chat with all the speakers and with representatives from the University of Warwick’s Advanced Materials project about possible collaborations.

The ‘Right Funds For You’ conference will take place at Coventry’s Hilton Hotel 4.15pm – 6.00pm on Thursday February 3.

For more information on the conference or to register for your free place go to: http://www.connectmidlands.org/web/cm/showevents.cfm?id=458

Notes to Editors

The Science City Research Alliance project is part of a larger investment by Advantage West Midlands and ERDF in the research infrastructure of the West Midlands region, which unites the Universities of Birmingham and Warwick in a newly-formed Science City Research Alliance. For more information log on to http://www2.warwick.ac.uk/fac/cross_fac/scra/themes/energyefficiency/

Birmingham Science City is a region-wide partnership of public sector, businesses and the research base, which is facilitating the use of science and technology to improve the quality of life and prosperity of the West Midlands.  Funded by Advantage West Midlands, Birmingham Science City’s aim is to create strategies to exploit centres of world-class scientific research, by developing relevant activities for sustainable economic and social benefit.

www.birminghamsciencecity.co.uk