British Business Bank appoints UK Network Senior Manager for Wales

The British Business Bank has appointed Steve Conibear to a new position as Senior Manager, UK Network for Wales.

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The British Business Bank – the government-owned economic development bank dedicated to making finance markets work better for smaller businesses – is establishing a UK Network, with team members based within each of the English regions and the three Devolved Nations. The UK Network was originally announced as part of the Government’s modern Industrial Strategy in November 2017, with a remit to identify and help to reduce imbalances in access to finance for smaller businesses across the UK.

The UK Network will help enhance business finance ecosystems across the UK so smaller businesses, wherever they are, can grow and prosper. It will also help the Bank develop a deeper understanding of small business finance markets in all parts of the UK so that, ultimately, the Bank can improve its support to smaller businesses everywhere.

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Steve will represent the UK Network across Wales and will engage closely with business finance stakeholders in the area. He will be supporting Jennifer Donnellan, the recently appointed UK Network Director, Devolved Nations.

Steve’s career has centred around funding and finance, both in the public and private sector. He has worked for the UK Government in Brussels as a European funding advisor, as well as EY and Deloitte in Brussels and Amsterdam and was responsible for setting up and leading the EU Government Incentives business. He has also worked for the Life Sciences Hub Wales, establishing business growth services to support smaller businesses in the sector.

Jennifer Donnellan, UK Network Director, Devolved Nations said:

“I’m delighted to have Steve on board. He joins us with fantastic experience in both the Welsh access to finance ecosystem and financial services internationally. He will be a real asset to the Bank as we start to get out and about across the nation and look in depth at the access to finance ecosystem. There’s a lot to do and we’re both looking forward to an exciting year ahead for the British Business Bank in Wales.”

Steve Conibear, Senior Manager, UK Network said:

“I am very pleased to be joining the newly-created UK Network. I look forward to developing lasting relationships between the British Business Bank and the business finance ecosystem across the whole of Wales to enable smaller businesses to explore the different finance options available to help them secure the finance best suited to their needs.”

The UK Network is part of the British Business Bank’s new Demand Development Unit, which has been specifically created to raise the Bank’s profile and relationship with smaller businesses across the UK. The Demand Development Unit also incorporates the Bank’s recently launched Finance Hub, a digital information hub aimed at raising awareness of the finance options available to UK SMEs. It provides independent and impartial information to high-growth businesses about their finance options. The new site also features case studies and learnings from real businesses to guide businesses through the process of applying for growth finance.