Vital Business Funding & Finance Opportunities In Spotlight At Major Event

Businesses can learn how to tap into the full range of regional financial support thanks to a new tailored event highlighting all types of funding opportunities.

Business leaders and decision-makers need to look no further than this masterclass for advice and information on securing cash, attracting investment, and programmes and schemes to drive them to success.

The Finance Marketplace: Your Access to Business Funding & Investment is a half-day afternoon expert-led showcase, from 1pm to 3.30pm on Monday, 30 March at Middlesbrough’s Riverside Stadium.

This event is part of the Tees Valley Business Masterclass Series – a string of workshops designed to kickstart 2026 for firms – led by Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council and delivered by all our Local Authorities on behalf of the Tees Valley Mayor and Combined Authority.

This follows a three-part Raising Investment series of business masterclasses set to take place over the coming weeks – two online sessions in Funding Options and Financial Strategy at 10am on 18 March and What Investors Look For: Preparing Your Business for Investment at 10am on 20 March, and one in-person event, Investor-Ready Business: Pitch Planning and Financial Narrative at Stockton-on-Tees Employment and Training Hub at 10am on 26 March.

This latest large-scale event will feature a finance marketplace, speakers and panel sessions. These include speakers from digital business solutions firm Sapere Software, a presentation by Lifted Ventures targeted at backing female founders, and a chance to network with local authorities, TVCA and business support organisations.

Tees Valley Mayor Ben Houchen said: “Across Teesside, we know there are hundreds of SMEs out there that just need a small financial push and the right support to be able to grow, help boost our economy and create good-quality, well-paid jobs for local people.

“There’s enormous potential in our local businesses and we’re determined to help unlock it. From advice on apprentice funding to support with digitalisation, exporting and energy efficiency, we’re making sure our brilliant local businesses have the tools and backing they need to grow and invest.”

Support for businesses across the region has been ramping up recently, and this event comes hot on the heels of a hugely successful workshop to help firms win contracts on major developments, which saw more than 100 businesses attend.

Just days ago, the Tees Valley Business Board also backed the launch of a new supply chain database to connect local companies to the transformative national and international projects taking place on their doorstep.

Matthew Ord, Chair of the Tees Valley Business Board, said: “This is the latest in a long line of workshops showing how we’re backing businesses. These have been designed to give practical, accessible advice to make sure bosses know all the avenues open to them to access finance.

“It’s important for our local firms engage and tell us what they want to see in future.

“As our Business Board gets up and running, we very much want to see more business support and opportunities in the Tees Valley integrated under one roof, so people and firms know where to turn to when they look for funding, support and expertise.”

Cllr Alec Brown, TVCA Cabinet Member for Business Growth and Net Zero and Leader of Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council, said: “For our businesses to thrive, it’s important they understand the full range of opportunities available to them.

“Whether you’re looking for immediate finances or not, I’d urge you to take advantage of this workshop because you never know what helpful support you may discover.”

The series is funded by the UK Government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund.

To book a spot, go to: https://tinyurl.com/TVbusinessfinance