Whether you’re in the early stages of starting a business, or looking to evolve and grow your enterprise, working out how to reach the next level can be tough.
Many successful entrepreneurs have stories about a “pivotal moment” in their company, where it suddenly took off. Sometimes it’s a case of luck and being in the right place at the right time. But business owners can also be proactive, for example seizing every potential opportunity, adopting a positive, resilient attitude and becoming a networking pro.
Join us online on Thursday 19 February, between 1pm and 2pm, when our panel of experts will offer advice on how you can give your business a boost. Perhaps you need advice on the best way to pitch your firm to journalists or tips for approaching potential investors. Maybe there’s a particular barrier that’s stopping your business from growing. Or perhaps you just need help finding a good mentor.
The live chat will take place in the comments section below. You can post your questions below, tweet us at @GdnSmallBiz or email smallbusinessnetwork@theguardian.com.
Our panel
Chris Barling is a serial entrepreneur and start-up investor with experience in ways of raising finance to turn a breakthrough moment into reality. Most recently he steered his mobile admin app start-up, Powered Now to crowdfund £585k.
Matt Davidson is director at StartUp PR, an award-winning PR agency that specialises in securing effective media coverage for growing businesses .
John Williams is head of breakthrough at Santander and has owned and run SME businesses for much of his career.
Dannie-Lu Carr is an actor, director and expert in the psychology of performance. She is co-founder of The Five Gateways, a coaching company that helps women step-up for their own business moment.
Caroline Langron is managing director of alternative finance provider for SMEs Platform Black. She has three decades of experience in invoice finance.
Andy Turner co-founded and managed a London PR agency for seven years. He has a 30 year track record of helping large and small companies solve marketing and communications issues.
Alex Mitchell is the partnership lead at the Start Up Loans company. He also runs his own social enterprise called Causarma that focuses on partnership development in business, sport and youth enterprise.
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