Bristol innovation hub Engine Shed has launched its first ‘scale-up month’ as part of its drive to deliver inclusive economic growth.
The programme includes three key events: Scale Up Briefing, Scale Up Breakfast and the launch of Quarterly Investment Briefing sessions. 
There will also be a series of blogs designed to build understanding and awareness of the challenges faced by scale-up businesses and equip business leaders from across the West of England region as they accelerate growth.
Kicking off the month at the Engine Shed, pictured, is the Scale Up Briefing ‘From Rhetoric to Reality’ next Wednesday, March 7, with guest speaker Uday Phadke, CEO of Cambridge-based innovation consultancy Cartezia and, until recently, entrepreneur-in-residence at Cambridge University.
Uday is also the author of Camels, Tigers & Unicorns: Rethinking Science and Technology-Enabled Innovation, which discusses how ideas can be transformed into commercial reality.
Sponsored by Bristol-headquartered law firm TLT, the session will cover issues such as developing maturity to scale up, which vectors leaders need to concentrate on, the tools needed to improve success rate and the pitfalls to avoid.
Bookings can be made at https://rhetoric-to-reality.eventbrite.co.uk
This is quickly followed by Engine Shed’s first Scale Up Breakfast workshop on March 13 with the theme of ‘Top Tips for Office Relocation Success’.
The deep dive session features Q&As plus insight from two previous panellists – Phil Morton of Morton Property Consultants, and Andy Worley from law firm Ashfords – who will address the ‘let vs buy’ conundrum and how to find and secure the right premises and location for growing teams.
The event, which is supported by Ashfords and Morton Property Consultants, is open to all start-ups and scale-ups across the region – but space is limited. Booking can be made at https://office-space-hunt.eventbrite.co.uk
Engine Shed’s Quarterly Investment Briefing will be launched on March 22. Aimed squarely at investors including venture capitalists, angel investors and funders of funds, the session features presentations from Silicon Valley Bank, Invest in Bristol & Bath head of inward investment Matt Cross and Jenny Tooth, CEO at UKBAA.
Sponsored by TLT and accountancy firms Smith & Williamson and KPMG, the event is the first of its kind in the region to showcase the breadth of investment opportunities across Bristol and Bath, providing part of the ‘deal mechanism’ crucial for scaling up. 
The event will be ‘pitch-free’ – however investors will be signposted to third-party pitch opportunities. Any investor interested in participating should contact Engine Shed scale-up co-ordinator Briony Philips, pictured, at briony.phillips@engine-shed.co.uk
She said: “Scale Up Month is a really exciting development for Engine Shed and the Bristol and Bath economic region. We’ve been engaging with and listening to a wide range of business leaders and entrepreneurs over the last nine months and are pleased to put the spotlight on support for scale up businesses for the month of March.
“The programme of activities reflects the three barriers to growth that are most mentioned by scale-up founders – office space, access to investment and leadership. We are calling on all businesses and investors from across the region to get involved and to play their part in the continued creation of a vibrant, inclusive economy.”
TLT senior associate Nina Searle, who is focused on fast-growth companies and those that invest in them, added: “We are very pleased and excited to sponsor the Scale Up Briefings and the new Quarterly Investment Briefings with Engine Shed.
“The Scale Up Briefings offer great insight for any business looking to take the next step in their business and the opportunity to network with peers in a similar position as themselves.
“The Investment Briefings are not to be missed, giving investors a real opportunity to see the fantastic talent that exists within the region from university spin-outs to more mature businesses looking for investment to take their business to the next level.”
The Engine Shed Scale Up Month coincides with a number of other initiatives this month scale-up programmes launched by Barclays, SETsquared Partnership and Inspire Elite.
Details of a further 10 that are open for applications can be found in Briony’s recent blog: http://www.engine-shed.co.uk/scale-up-support-programmes/
To keep up to date on Scale Up Month, use #ScaleUpMonth, visit http://www.engine-shed.co.uk/projects/scale-up/ or subscribe to Engine Shed newsletter http://engine-shed.us8.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=b9e747da9238aeae38a752c8e&id=6ec810f162
Photos courtesy of Jon Craig @JonCraig_Photos
