'Business Edge: Strategies for Growth' in Bristol

As an ambitious business owner or Director, you need to keep spinning lots of different plates and therefore you need the very best information and advice. 'Business Edge: Strategies for Growth' in Bristol on 27th May 2010 is the half day event tailored specifically for owners, directors and entrepreneurs that will deliver expert speakers and leading practitioners helping delegates to:

Experts and leading practitioners include:

GUY RIGBY: How To Build An 'Road Map' For Your Business

Guy Rigby is an experienced chartered accountant and an entrepreneur. A natural and driven enthusiast, he built and sold his own accountancy firm, as well as pursuing other commercial interests. He has been a director and part owner of a number of different companies, including businesses in the IT, property, defence, manufacturing and retail sectors. In an unusually varied career, he has been the senior partner of two accountancy firms, a finance director, a sales and marketing director and an adviser and mentor to many entrepreneurial businesses and their owners.

Guy joined Smith & Williamson in 2008 and leads their entrepreneurial services group. His day to day activities include advising entrepreneurs and their businesses & coordinating Smith & Williamson’s activities in this increasingly important market.

JULIE MEYER: Building an Entrepreneur Country

Julie Meyer is one of the leading champions for entrepreneurship in Europe. With over 20 years investment and advisory experience helping start-up businesses, she is the well known founder and CEO of Ariadne Capital, founder of Entrepreneur Country, co-founder of First Tuesday, dragon on BBC's Online Dragons Den and weekly columnist in London's City A.M. Julie has set her mission to build a growth story for the UK and Europe. This passion and entrepreneurial flair has earned her awards as Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year, World Economic Forum Global Leader of Tomorrow and a place in the Wall Street Journal's Top 30 Most Influential Women in Europe.

In addition to her weekly column for London's City A.M. and regular contributions to Business Week, Computing, FT Digital Business, Spectator Business, Julie is also a regular industry commentator on the BBC and CNBC. Most recently Julie founded Entrepreneur Country. Managed by Ariadne Capital, Entrepreneur Country is a dedicated community for leading and emerging entrepreneurs, investors, the media and corporate partners who service the start-up industry across the UK and Europe.

From 1998 to 1999, Julie was part of the team at NewMedia Investors, which became early stage investment firm SPARK Ventures in October 1999. During this time she took her first steps in the entrepreneurial arena founding First Tuesday, the largest global network of entrepreneurs, which many credit for igniting the Internet generation in Europe. It was sold for $50million in cash and shares in July 2000.

DAVID ROPER: Corporate Finance for Entrepreneurs and Growth Businesses

David Roper is an experienced corporate finance director, specialising in advising owner managed businesses. He qualified as a chartered accountant with PriceWaterhouseCoopers and after a period with its insolvency practice moved to the English and American Insurance Company prior to joining Smith & Williamson in 1988.

David has particular experience of business acquisitions and sales, management buy-out, due diligence, bank and venture capital finance raising and manages due diligence work undertaken within the corporate finance team, where business advisory skills are combined to provide a value added service to clients.

JOHN ROSLING: The Economy And Strategies For Growth

John Rosling is the UK CEO of Shirlaws,the international business coaching organisation, and combines that role with coaching a small number of CEOs, Boards and Partner Groups to achieve the strategic clarity, vision and laser focus that allows for rapid businesses growth and maximum equity valuation. 

John has worked with a wide range of clients in the UK and across Europe helping businesses to grow, and developing the skills and performance of their management teams. Clients include: Colliers International across Eastern Europe; and Jaluch, Import Services, Intermedia Group and Earth Capital Partners in the UK. He has achieved particular impact working with management teams on strategy, equity value, positioning, channels to market, business efficiency, customer loyalty, teamwork, personal goals and work/life Balance.

John started his career with Unilever in the UK and Japan before moving to Diageo as International Marketing Controller with development responsibility for 113 markets. 

Since leaving the corporate world he has established or acquired a number of small businesses in Carbon Responsibility, CRM, finance/asset management, e-commerce, and business outsourcing. He retains an interest in a small number of these businesses whilst focusing his time on creating the same kind of results for his clients.

Click here to view the full agenda for

Business Edge - Strategies for Growth in Bristol

This session will be followed by an opportunity to network with fellow business owners over lunch in the dining rooms of Smith & Williamson

For more information on this event

or the series of 'Business Edge: Strategies for Growth' events, please call

0845 5000 328 or email events@freshbusinessthinking.com