2024 TBAT Innovation Challenge

Workshop 1

Finance Workshop – All you need to know to fund your business growth

WATCH PART 1 | WATCH PART 2

This free-to-attend online workshop is designed to delve into the innovative solutions you need to know in order to fund your business growth. We will discuss problems, challenges and highlight opportunities to reduce the effects of funding barriers – supporting you on your journey to commercialisation and being a disrupter in the marketplace.

This workshop, will be run as part of The Innovation Challenge, which has been designed by a group of well established experts, to stimulate and support innovation in SMEs by leveraging the expertise of our unique partner network.

This event is one of four interactive workshops, designed to support growing SME’s through the highs and lows of how to successfully innovate, grow and succeed.  All of the workshops are open to the public and free-to-attend, with no requirement to apply to The Innovation Challenge. If you would like to find out more about the application process, please click here.

This informative and interactive Finance workshop sponsored by Modus Accountants will consist of short presentations, Q&A’s, comfort breaks throughout and a panel discussion towards the end. Take a look below at our workshop speakers and the topics they will be covering.

TBAT Innovation Challenge Headline Sponsor

Shakespeare Martineau Logo

Workshop 1 Sponsor

Modus Logo 1


Workshop Speakers

Sam Stephens Innovation Challenge Speaker

Sam Stephens, Director – TBAT Innovation

CHAIR and Introduction to SEIS / EIS and Advanced Assurance

After establishing TBAT in 2002 as a consultancy catering to the SME sector, Sam led the company’s evolution into the innovation-centric enterprise it is today. TBAT now specialises in supporting companies throughout the entire new product and process innovation cycle. Sam began his career as a graduate and manufacturing engineer at Rolls-Royce Aerospace before transitioning to Rolls Royce and Associates as a Development and Project Engineer. Currently, Sam heads up the Business Development and R&D Tax Credits side of the business.

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Esther Lawrence Speaker

Esther Lawrence, Head of Business Development – Grants – TBAT Innovation

Introduction to Grant Funding

Esther became a member of TBAT in 2021, bringing with her more than two decades of experience in IT and electronics manufacturing and distribution. During this time, she gained valuable expertise in launching products and services into the market. At TBAT, she applies these skills to assist start-ups and scale-ups at the beginning of their journey in securing funding through R&D innovation grants and incentives, helping them develop new technologies and services.

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Yas speaker image

Yasmin Dalton, R&D Tax Consultant – TBAT Innovation

Introduction to R&D Tax 

Yasmin joined TBAT in 2022 from a previous senior R&D specialist role. Both of Yasmin’s degrees (BA/MA) relate to government policy and legislation and her key research interests are innovation, technology, and sovereignty policy. Over the last three years, Yasmin has worked with a variety of SMEs & LCs to secure R&D funding ranging from top government suppliers providing full life-cycle engineering and decarbonisation solutions for transport infrastructure to supporting small, Oxford-backed start-ups developing bioengineered stem cells as an alternative for islet cell transplantation.

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Stephanie Monty, Founder & CEO – Ostique

The journey and C Fund

A qualified product design engineer, Stephanie’s experience spans product development, manufacturing, medical device regulations, NHS engagement, raising investment and strategic planning. Innovate UK grant winner, certified in NHS Finances and Structures, NIHR’s Good Clinical Practice and BSI’s Implementation of Medical Device Regulation for CE Marking 

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Roger Harcourt, Partner and Head of Office – Shakespeare Martineau

Finance and funding options from a legal perspective and legal considerations when growing a business

Roger is a corporate lawyer who acts for clients doing great things all around the country and overseas. Roger advises clients on starting, buying and selling companies, taking or making investments in them, joint ventures and general company law. He also acts for banks and VCs and heads up the healthcare team, which advises social and primary care providers and medtech businesses. 

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Jenna Lloyd, Director – Modus Accountants

Accountancy, Business Plan and Cash Flow

Jenna Lloyd is a Director at Modus accountants, with over 15 years worth of experience in accountancy practices. Having joined Modus in 2019, Jenna brings a wealth of expertise to her role at the company and in 2022 achieved her ACCA Qualification. Throughout her career she has collaborated with numerous businesses across diverse industries, aiding them in achieving growth and optimising tax efficiency.

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Rob Fabbro, Head of Distribution – Rocking Horse Group

Fund the finance gap for R&D TC and Grant Funding

Rob is the Head of Distribution at Rocking Horse Group, who provide non-dilutive finance solutions to help businesses of all sizes and in every sector accelerate growth plans and innovate.

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James Davis, Co- Founder – Rocking Horse Group

Fund the finance gap for R&D TC and Grant Funding

James is the Co-Founder of Rocking Horse Group, who provide non-dilutive finance solutions to help businesses of all sizes and in every sector accelerate growth plans and innovate.  His previous roles include THS Partners in Investor Relations and Macquarie Group. 

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Lewis Stringer, Senior Manager – British Business Bank

Debt and Equity Finance

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 almost 250 Delivery Partners. Lewis Stringer joined the British Business Bank in October 2016 and 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.  

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