NatWest and Innovate UK Business Connect among the latest to back SCALE Manchester

2026-11-25 · Manchester

Freight Island

SCALE Manchester gathers founders, investors, and business leaders at Freight Island on 25 November 2026 for practical sessions, roundtables, and pitching.

SCALE Manchester brings founders, investors and business leaders together at Freight Island on 25 November 2026. The summit features founder-led discussions, investor insights, practical sessions, speed networking, and a Female Founders Pitch Competition. Key partners include NatWest and Innovate UK Business Connect.

Founder brief

Who should attend

Scaling entrepreneurs looking to navigate growth capital will find strong relevance here. Female founders ready to pitch for direct investor access, alongside leaders keen to connect with institutional partners across the region, will benefit most from the day's focused tracks.

What happens

Attendees move through founder-led discussions and practical tracks, including the Show Me The Money roundtable on funding options. The schedule also incorporates dedicated speed networking sessions and the Female Founders Pitch Competition, which spotlights Women Who Scale.

Who's in the room

Around 100 participants gather at Freight Island, including investors, experts, and partners from organizations like The Access Group and Star Asset Finance. Sessions are hosted by figures such as Jenny Edwards and Steve Sankson from NatWest, Fran McIntyre from Innovate UK Business Connect, and Will Fowler from SCALE.

How to prepare

Draft a concise summary of your current traction and funding requirements before attending the capital roundtable. For speed networking, bring a clear thirty-second description of your product and ideal partnerships so you can make the most of every brief conversation.

Organizer: SCALE

Register

At a glance

Format
Includes roundtables, speed networking sessions, and a pitch competition.
Attendance
About 100 attendees expected
Sectors
Agnostic

Agenda

  1. Show Me The Money: Access to Growth Capital — A roundtable designed to help scaling businesses better understand funding options.
  2. Speed Networking Sessions — Short, focused conversations with other founders, investors, experts and potential partners.
  3. Female Founders Pitch Competition — Spotlighting Women Who Scale with winners gaining direct access to investors.

Speakers, judges and hosts

  • Fran McIntyre — Innovate UK Business Connect (Host)
  • Jenny Edwards — Head of NatWest Venture Banking, NatWest (Host)
  • Steve Sankson — Regional Director of NatWest Corporate Banking, NatWest (Host)
  • Will Fowler — Chief Commercial Officer, SCALE (Host)

Sponsors and partners

  • NatWest
  • Innovate UK Business Connect
  • The Access Group
  • Star Asset Finance

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