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Pitching for funding

Where should entrepreneurs look for alternative finance, and do investors have a different checklist now?
 

PHIL COX

The head of EMEA and India for Silicon Valley Bank tells how he launched the UK operation

CROWDCUBE

Darren Westlake and Luke Lang on launching the peer-to-peer equity finance site

Investing for growth

Seven leading entrepreneurs discuss whether the time is right

ENTIRE AGREEMENT CAUSE

What is it, why is it used and who needs to use it?

Banks ain't what they used to be

Funding is out there, but it calls for new thinking

ESCAPE THE ZOMBIE TRAP

How two businesses came back from the dead to enjoy robust financial health

Pay on time, or you'll damage small firms

Late payments to SMEs are harmful to business and ethically wrong, says Labour's Debbie Abrahams

JAMES CAAN: HOW TO MAKE A PERFECT PITCH

What are the secrets of a killer pitch for funding? The entrepreneur and investor – and former Dragons' Den panellist – gives Director some top tips and tough love

RISE OF THE JOHN LEWIS ECONOMY

Employee-owned firms in Britain have a combined turnover of £25bn – it's a fast-growing business model backed by government. But what are the risks and rewards?

SHOW US THE MONEY

Can SMEs find reliable funding away from traditional bank lending? Our experts offer a guide to alternative finance

60 SECOND EXPERT: INVOICE TRADING

Christopher Shaw, chief executive, Platform Black, explains the process whereby SMEs place invoices in an online auction and sell them individually or in bundles to the best bidder

60 SECOND EXPERT: ANGELS IN THE CITY

An investment scheme launched by the City of London Corporation aims to recruit and build a new pool of 125 angel investors

The chop shop

Need to cut overheads quickly but not sure where to start? A new wave of technology can help you attack hidden costs, improve efficiency and boost your bottom line

Special report: alternative finance

As banks squeeze lending, small firms must look further afield for finance

Keep a tight grip on cash

Ten top tips on how to secure healthy growth

 

Debate

Are enterprise zones good for growth?

Debate

Do we need stronger laws on late payment?

Hold on tight

The Alternative Investment Market offers rewards for fast-growing firms but investors can be unforgiving if a listing is botched. Follow our guide for a smoother ride

Debate

Will the VAT rise be bad for business?

Special report: business protection

Research by the IoD and Legal & General finds directors cautiously optimistic but unprepared for risk

Debate

Should banks be forced to lend to small firms?

Directors' Rewards Survey

Longer hours, fewer holidays and pay freezes... Croner's latest Directors' Rewards Survey reveals a picture of bosses meeting unprecedented challenges

Debate

Is the City failing UK startups?

Banking's new wave

Metro Bank opened with a fanfare, promising better customer service in a sector still reeling from the financial crisis. Can it deliver, and will other new players in the field force High Street giants to rethink their game?

Growing pains

The recession may be over but SMEs face a bumpy ride as economic growth returns. What is the best way to keep a tight rein on costs as your business expands?

Growing together

Lining up a business for takeover is fraught with danger. Avoid the elephant traps and you can achieve rapid growth. But make one risky move and you'll burn cash quickly

Riding the storm

How have UK regions faced up to the challenges of recession? A group of key industry figures tell Director what's giving their corner of the country the edge

Goodbye to greed

The economic storm may be calming but there are vital lessons to learn before we kick the fast-buck habit

Show us the money

While small firms struggle for cash, High Street lenders are being portrayed as villains. So how do you build trust with your bank while keeping a business on track?

Bosses feel the chill

Pay freezes, longer hours and fewer bonuses... tough times have hit directors hard in 2009, says the latest Directors' Rewards survey

Troubled waters

Many small firms risk ruin because of poor insurance against flooding. As climate experts predict higher rainfall, what should businesses do to avoid a murky future?

Bailouts spark a new financial dilemma

Separating risky casino banks from High Street lenders is a safety-first approach. But a more robust sector may mean weak lending for many years. What chance an economic revival?

Retire at 55? Think again

Many directors nearing retirement paid a high price when markets plunged a year ago. But taking a more active role in pension planning may have protected their wealth

Drop the ego

It pays to be a market follower, says Ko Barclay, chief investment officer of Emblumoven

Wealth service

Stockmarkets may be buoyant again but investors still face volatility. Director shows you how to make the most of your wealth in uncertain times

Cash in on collectibles

From fine wine to classic cars... alternative investments are still popular and can offer attractive returns. Here are 10 of the best

debate

Should we cap bankers' pay?

Confidence game

Manufacturing decline creates executive paranoia, but the City is back on top

Meeting of minds

With company liquidations on the increase, restructuring experts and insolvency practitioners are busier than ever. But are banks helping or hindering small firms?

Would you credit it?

Lord Mandelson, secretary of state for business, explains why helping small firms access funds is his top priority

When the bank says no

We discover (at least) 20 other ways you can raise much-needed cash for your company...

Bargain hunt

As the downturn claims more victims, opportunities to snap up failed companies at rock-bottom prices are rising. But beware the hidden traps on the acquisition trail

Confidence game

Manufacturing decline creates executive paranoia, but the City is back on top

Keeping small firms on track

Tyre company Michelin has an established fund to help entrepreneurs in UK regions where it operates factories. And there's more demand for its loans than ever, as Richard Cree discovers

Nothing ventured

Private equity funding for innovative start-ups is drying up. The cash drought threatens to hamper Britain's ability to create jobs in the vital knowledge economy

Plenty of spark

A utilities start-up looking for cash is giving investors the chance to share in its growth with an eye-catching bond offer—and there's free fuel, too

Winning back trust

If banks and building societies have lost the confidence of consumers, says Jim Reeve, then independent financial advisers are well placed to gain an upper hand

Play your cards right

Fuel cards are a powerful weapon for fleet managers seeking to drive down costs

Shifting gear

From keeping cars for longer to cutting fuel use through new technology, companies are exploring new ways to slash fleet costs as the credit squeeze continues

Keep the cash flowing

A tight rein on spending is rule number one in a recession. But how do you control your costs and stay competitive? Finance experts and downturn survivors offer tips

Debate

Pre-packs are a common way to rescue failed businesses, but are they fair?

frozen assets

How Gordon Brown brought Iceland to its knees

Currency swings are small firms' biggest fear

Poll also highlights distribution costs as biggest barrier to growth overseas

Stamp duty is a "kick in the teeth"

Restaurateurs say the government could do more to help keep them open

"Challenger brands need to do things differently"

King of Shaves founder Will King issues 5,000 bonds to his customers

Learning the language of investment

A Silicon Valley community is bringing its wealth of knowledge to London. Its goal is to breed female entrepreneurs with staying power

Exit the dragon, enter the angel

Finding the whole process of raising finance "stuffy and costly", Bill Morrow decided to fix the problem

Debate

Are we over the worst of the recession?

Life in the fast lane

It's gloomy in the car industry, but some British firms are punching well above their weight

Debate

Is the IMF right to say that of the world's developed nations the UK is likely to suffer the most from recession?

Where's the money?

It's an entrenched part of UK corporate culture, but late payment is gambling with the future of small businesses. Will a new voluntary code of practice shame the culprits or is it simply PR spin?

Budget round-up

Richard Baron, head of taxation at the Institute of Directors (IoD) looks at what the budget will mean for small businesses

No revolution

Will the Turner Report carry as much weight abroad as it does at home?

debate

Are female entrepreneurs better placed to survive the looming recession?

debate

Should the MPC set a zero interest rate to stimulate the economy?

Crisis talk

From Black Swans to dead-cat bounces... 10 terms to help you get to grips with the global financial meltdown

Chain-store massacre

The credit crunch, rising unemployment, increased competition, loss of the 'feel-good factor'... British retailers face a difficult Christmas. But reports of disaster are exaggerated. Some will survive unscathed

retail therapy

Directors from four UK retailers suggest different ways to mitigate the worst effects of an economic slowdown

Blue gold

Shrewd investors are calling it "blue gold". It's better known as water. Will the world's unslakeable thirst eventually make it the hottest investment opportunity on the planet? Peter Bartram weighs up the evidence

saving, not drowning

From 2012, any worker without an occupational pension will be automatically enrolled into a new savings scheme, and their employer will be forced to contribute. Good or bad news for British employees and businesses?

Money protection

Checking your clients' credit is always worth the trouble, and in a turbulent economic climate, it becomes vital. But different businesses adopt a diverse range of methods for protecting their investments

John Potter

Leaders in the financial sector must sharpen up their act

Envestors and Angels Den

Matching great ideas with investment

AIM proves bang on target

Launched 13 years ago, London's junior stockmarket remains a favourite with smaller businesses. And, despite growing competition from mainland Europe and increasing economic uncertainty, it's showing few signs of a teenage crisis

Debate

Is a third runway at Heathrow essential for the UK's economy?

Banking on Islamic finance

The development of Sharia-compliant financial products has been welcomed by the government and by leading figures in business and the City. But obstacles to the continued growth of Islamic finance remain

Sin and the city

It is one of the world's most important financial centres, raising huge sums for corporate and government borrowers, and managing investments for millions of people, but the City is tainted by scandal. Could its reputation have been better protected?

Weathering the storm

Most experts agree that the UK will see a period of slower economic growth this year, if not a full-blown recession, so it's time for businesses to get their finances in order

A bad day to bury good news

Why didn't the Chancellor mention the measures taken to support small business, asks Rebecca Harding

Right aspiration, now action

Richard Baron, head of taxation at the Institute of Directors (IoD) looks at what the budget will mean for small businesses

Game, set and match

Start-up companies that think all they want is help in finding cheap offices, usually need a whole lot more assistance than they realise

Women prove reluctant angels

Despite the fact the UK is home to more women millionaires aged between 18 and 44 than men, less than five per cent of business angels are female. A new scheme aims to turn this around

Pre-budget Report

The Chancellor's proposed change to Capital Gains Tax would deter investment core to UK entrepreneurship, says Rebecca Harding

Raising finance: grand designs

Bob Taylor, partner at venture capital firm Envestors, gives advice to an early stage design and innovation company seeking further growth and expansion capital

Raising finance: networking goes a long way

Oliver Woolley, partner at venture capital firm Envestors, gives advice to an early-stage Web 2.0 social networking site seeking funding for growth

Raising finance: advice for would be dragon slayers

Scott Houghton, partner at venture capital firm Envestors, helps a London-based tech start-up to raise £1m, even though it doesn't have a product yet

The Irish question

Peace has brought prosperity, but should a lower corporation tax be introduced?

The sum kings

A growing band of venture capitalists is focusing on identifying smaller deals, according to Zephyr research commissioned exclusively for Director. Claire Oldfield analyses the results and talks to some of the UK's top dealmakers

Small advances, big returns

A new and rapidly growing financial service promises to help the have-nots out of poverty

Crunch time for small businesses

Could the sub-prime loans crisis hit small firms all over Europe?

Making a drama of a crisis

Statistics show that 43 per cent of companies that experience a disaster never recover—but a business continuity plan need not be complex or expensive

Africa wants its share of the pie

African stockmarkets are on the up. Is the continent at last becoming a safer bet?

Hamish McRae on economics

The next sixty years will see a shift in the balance of world power but are we in the west prepared for this?

The art of finding funding

Research reveals challenges faced by SMEs trying to raise funds

The price of independents

The fees of NEDs are increasing. But with increased regulation and the threat of litigation, are the rewards worth the risk?

Exit the dragon, enter the angel

Instead of moaning about the difficulties of securing start up funds, Bill Morrow decided to fix the problem

Don't fall foul of the tax man

Only a tiny minority of directors set out to defraud the system. But many more will fall foul of tax inspectors because they've failed to take enough care in making company tax returns

How to stay out of trouble

Seven ways to keep the tax man happy

Directors reveal their budget wishlist

We find out what chief executives would like to see Gordon Brown implement or repeal for business in his next (and final) Budget

Why the numbers people count

Knowing how the numbers stack up puts the finance director in one of the strongest positions in a company. And FDs are now wielding their power more freely

How would you like €30m?

UK firms are missing out on money from an EC scheme called the Framework Fund that allocates €5bn a year to businesses