SME Connect:
SME Connect provides business leaders across the North West with valuable tips and advice via a programme of bi-monthly business seminars, delivered by experts within the fields of several key business functions including marketing, HR, legal and finance.
The afternoon seminars are focus on providing help to SMEs within the region by offering tips on how to: Reduce costs, Grow sales, Improve performance and Increase profitability within their own organisations.
All of our events conclude with refreshments and also provide the opportunity to network with other guests.
The Urquhart Partnership has been involved with SME-Connect since its inception and has had consistently positive feedback on the events. Our seminars are not sales presentations or thinly disguised pitches; they are a chance to share in the knowledge of experts in fields that affect all SMEs.
Example speakers:
Julian Llewellyn has extensive financial, commercial and operational management experience in both fast growth SME and multinational PLC environments. Currently Managing Director of Optima RM, Julian has held a number of Finance/Commercial Director roles with BAESYSTEMS, Premier Brands and Hillsdown Holdings and most recently Vice President, EMEA with SurfControl plc. Member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England & Wales; member of the Association of Corporate Treasurers; Director of SME Connect, a North West organisation supporting SME business growth and past member of the CBI Regional Council for the North West.
Paul Halliwell Following a successful career in travel, latterly with British Airways, Paul moved into HR 5 years ago. Initially in a client facing role with a large HR consultancy, Paul moved into Recruitment and had a successful spell as Manager with one of the UK's largest specialist recruiters. Paul joined The Urquhart Partnership as Commercial Manager with a combined brief of managing existing client relationships and supporting the development of new business.
Paul Fingleton trained with THR Chartered Accountants and qualified in 1988, becoming a Partner in 1990. In 2008, Paul was appointed a Director of Montpelier Chartered Accountants. Paul has overall responsibility for all aspects of taxation advice for the Preston office. He also advises on company share valuations, reorganisations, turnarounds, and corporate finance including mergers and acquisitions, and loan finance and leasing.
Simon Whitehead is an Employment Partner with Brabners Chaffe Street. He has particular expertise and experience in the employment law issues relating to outsourcing, corporate transactions and business reorganisations, having successfully managed the employment issues of a number of complex projects for clients including restructures, redundancies and acquisitions. Simon deals regularly with contractual disputes, including restrictive covenant cases.
Steve Nurdin is Head of Marketing at Kinesis and has over 15 years experience in senior marketing management in a variety of agency and client side roles. He has a Masters Degree in Marketing Management, is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Marketing (CIM) and a registered Chartered Marketer. Steve has worked with many varied SME companies in addition to leading projects and strategies for larger corporate organisations. He has an ability to quickly understand situations and pull together resources to develop winning strategies. He is insightful, creative and exhibits a drive and determination to succeed.
Stuart Finnerty spent 10 years as manager / area manager within retail banking before moving into his role as Commercial Manager for RBS in Warrington. His success in the role is down to the close working relationship that he has with his SME clients. Understanding these businesses enables him to provide solutions to their financial needs and gives them access to more specialist banking services. Stuart actively supports networking and looks for opportunities to add value to his customers.
Who can attend?:
Our seminars are strictly for Owners/Directors of SMEs (5+ employees). We apply this rule in order to ensure that the seminars remain true to their objective.
If you would like to book a place at an SME-Connect seminar, please go to your website www.sme-connect.co.uk or contact rc@upwebsite.com
Future Events:
The next SME-Connect event is taking place at Brabners Chaffe Street, Manchester City Centre on Wednesday 9th June from 2 pm, please email Rebecca rc@upwebsite.com for further details.