Speed Mentoring: Getting to grips with your business finance

It can be helpful to think of it as a language, the language of business. You need to know to get to grips with your finances, as well as how to manage your business with online accounting, cashflow forecasts and financial checklists.

Running a thriving business is that there are many ways to measure success, revenue, gross profit, and cash flow impact the present and future of every company. To create sustained value, each business owner must create their own unique definition, and stick to it.

For many, success means profit and while short-term gains are exciting, long-term wealth and growth are common goals. Some business owners focus their success on progress toward a dream or mission.

Our experts on the day will comprise of:

Pete Schonbeck

Pete Schonbeck set up Productschön Business Advice to work with both new and established businesses including fashion creatives, artists, service industry professionals and a multitude of online and offline line businesses in the food and beverage, tech, furniture, beauty, travel, sports and well-being sectors. He has been a delivery partner of the Library’s Business & IP Centre for more than seven years.

Robert Foster

Robert is co-founder of Red Ochre, a leading social enterprise consultancy operating in over 26 countries. He is a specialist in social impact measurement; social enterprise and blended value business models; commissioning and procurement; and social innovation. He is a published author on numerous topics including Social Impact.

Robert is particularly interested in how organisations create, quantify, share and communicate the value that they create.

Johnny Martin

Johnny Martin FCA is The Numbers Coach – an experienced Finance Director who now passionately demystifies business jargon. He is a British Library Business & IP Centre partner where he runs regular workshops, a mentor for the Royal College of Art Innovation Unit and he is the Entrepreneur in residence at the London College of Fashion.

Yemisi Mokuolu

Yemisi Mokuolu is an accomplished independent producer and creative business consultant working globally to support entrepreneurs realise their initiatives for social impact and cultural change. In 2003, Yemisi founded and ran ‘Out of Africa’ until 2010 to raise the profile of African arts and artists, which was hosted as monthly gigs and club-nights, as well as festivals hosted in public sites such as Carnaby Street and the riverside Southbank Centre. Today, Yemisi is the co-producer of AsaBaako – One Dance a five-day international music festival hosted annually in Ghana in March.

Marette Hickford

Marette Hickford is a Business & IP Specialist in the Business & IP Centre at the British Library. She assists customers with their reference, research needs and information for their businesses in the Centre and online. She works with a diverse range of businesses from all sectors, especially helping those who are at a start-up and growth level.

Please note a British Business Bank representative will be in attendance but as they are not regulated they can only sign post entrepreneurs, not advise.

The Business & IP Centre are hosting this event in collaboration with the annual Business Finance Week, a campaign run by the British Business Bank. There will be a range of nationwide and regional events offered throughout the campaign, including in-person sessions and webinars, to help smaller businesses find out more about the various finance options available to them to support their individual needs. Learn more at british-business-bank.co.uk/bfw.

Host or Publisher British Library, Business & IP Centre