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When visions of a sustainable economy in the UK are laid out, especially following the financial crisis of 2008 onwards, the SME is often given a starring role. In Germany, the SME is key to the national economy, though the structure of companies, attitudes towards enterprise and innovation, and the environment for funding, are different.

Programme:

2.00pm Registration

2.30pm Welcome and Introduction

Hans-Hartwig Blomeier, Director, KAS UK & Ireland

Michael Lloyd, Global Policy Institute

First Session: The German Approach to SME Financing

2.40pm Comparison of German and British SME Financing

Holger Wessling, General Manager DZ Bank AG London – German Central Cooperative Bank

3.00pm The German Approach

Dr Margarite Tchouvakhira, Kredit für Wiederaufbau – Credit for Reconstruction, Vice-President, Economics Department

3.20pm German Corporate Financing

Dr Ulrich Hoppe, Director General, German-British Chamber of Industry & Commerce

3.40pm Panel Discussion and Q&A

Moderator – Michael Lloyd, GPI

4.00pmCoffee break

Second Session: The Challenges for UK SME Finance

4.15pm Problems in UK financing of SMEs

Simon Hanson, Business Development Manager, Federation of Small Businesses (NE)

4.35pm SME Financing. New approach and opportunities

Neil Bellamy, Director, Technology Media & Telecom UK, NatWest Specialist Sectors Commercial Banking

4.50pm SME Financing. Risk Capital for SMEs: Asset-based Finance

Lucy Armstrong, Chief Executive, The Alchemists and recent Chair, CBI National SME Council

5.05pm Ideas for Change

Michael Lloyd, Global Policy Institute

5.20pm Panel discussion and Q&A

Moderator: Hans-Hartwig Blomeier, KAS

6.00pm Reception