Returning for the second year, Insider’s Finance for Business Conference is bringing together business leaders and financial advisers to discuss strategies for growth, acquisitions, securing funding and more.

The event – taking place on Wednesday 20 September at The Bridgewater Hall in Manchester – will provide practical advice for companies on a range of topics including:

• Use of AI to improve efficiency and profitability
• Growing your top line when the macro-environment is tough
• Becoming funding ready
• Opportunities for growth and accessing investment
• Use of the right networks for expertise
• Exit planning

The conference will include an interview with Imran Hakim, chief executive of Hakim Group. Hakim will share how the company has grown from a single optician to one of the UK’s leading optician groups, with more than 300 practices.

He will provide insight into the expansion strategy of the highly-acquisitive business, and how he has secured funding for growth.

Following this, there will be two panels consisting of business leaders and financial experts. Speakers include Nicola Hunter of APEM Group, an environmental consultancy which has recently secured a debt package to accelerate growth, and Andy Bones from occupational health business PAM Group, which has used funding to expand into new sectors and launch new products.

The half-day conference is sponsored by DC Advisory, LDC, Pinsent Masons and Thincats. You can find more information and register to attend here.