Pitch Perfect – Investment Readiness Programme for Growing SMEs
Businesses from across the Tees Valley are being supported in raising investment capital to fuel their growth plans as they look to seize the opportunities in a post-pandemic world.
Through the Tees Valley Pitch Perfect – Investment Readiness programme, businesses with high-growth potential can secure access to a team of experienced investment professionals with a track record in helping entrepreneurs grow their ventures faster and further than they imagined possible.
The programme - delivered by the Tees Valley Business Hub and forms part of the Teesside University Grow Tees Valley project - will deliver one-on-one coaching and workshops in securing investment, culminating in the opportunity to pitch to an audience of investors, who will include angel investors, venture capital figures and corporate investors.
Pitch Perfect, which launches in a virtual event on May 27, is the latest innovation to support businesses in the Tees Valley from the Tees Valley Business Hub - powered by the SME Centre for Excellence - since its launch last year.
Since that time, the Hub has supported hundreds of businesses across the Tees Valley area with their plans to start, survive and thrive, working alongside them to develop a tailored strategy to overcome the challenges of the pandemic and find the opportunities that lie within such difficult economic times.
“Access to finance is a subject we have heard many times as being a priority to businesses in the Tees Valley, whether that’s to get back on track and refocus after the enormous challenges of the past year, or else to capitalise on opportunities which have arisen in the market which they’re keen to take advantage of,” says Ammar Mirza CBE, Chair of the SME Centre for Excellence Group.
“We are dedicated to doing all we can to deliver the right support at the right time for Tees Valley businesses, so we are very pleased to be able to deliver this programme which will give bespoke advice to entrepreneurs about how they can raise investment and use it to fuel their growth.
“While this continues to be a turbulent time, for ambitious businesses, this is the time to look to the future and how they can make that happen. Our team at the Tees Valley Business Hub can help make that happen and, working alongside Grow Tees Valley and a range of stakeholders on this programme, will do all we can to deliver that.”
Jordan Dargue, Chief Executive of Tees Valley Business Hub, says: “This programme is key for any business who is based in the Tees Valley and looking to raise finance in the next 12 to 18 months.
“You will receive expert advice and support from a team of investment professionals, along with specialist support and investment advice and introductions at the end of the programme. Our aim for the course of the programme is to help raise a minimum of £2m, create 100 jobs and promote inclusive growth.”
Suhail Aslam, Project Director of Grow Tees Valley, adds: “We are delighted to be working with The SME Centre of Excellence and the Tees Valley Business Hub to deliver this exciting programme as part of the wider Teesside University Grow Tees Valley project.
“The Pitch Perfect – Investment Readiness programme will offer SMEs the opportunity to learn from experts about how to design, deliver and execute a proficient financial pitch to investment professionals.’’
* The Pitch Perfect – Investment Readiness programme will launch online on May 27 at 9.30am. To learn more about the initiative and attend the event, sign up at www.tvbh.co.uk/pitch-perfect