Tom Wilkins
		Tom is a passionate advocate of entrepreneurship and acts as a board member of the Chartered Institute of Marketing and Young Enterprise. Tom’s early career  began with Anheuser-Busch in the marketing team working on the Budweiser brand in the UK and Continental Europe. After a period at Nexus Marketing and Communications, Tom was subsequently approached to join Business Link Northwest as head of marketing. As a member of the senior management team, Tom delivered transformational business change from the previous service and led on all national campaign activity. Tweet @TomLWilkins
Imran Hakim
		Young entrepreneur Imran Hakim is best known as one of the most successful individuals to win investment on BBC2's Dragons' Den with his innovative iTeddy product, which now retails in more than 45 countries worldwide. An optometrist by profession, Imran has built a portfolio of businesses within the sector, including a successful group of independent retail practices. In 2009, Imran became the youngest entrant in the North West Power 100 list and received an honorary doctorate in enterprise and innovation from the University of Bolton, recognising his focus on incubating and investing in early stage businesses across a variety of sectors. Having run his own business since the age of 15, Imran now acts as non-executive director for Business Link North West, North West ambassador for the UK India Business Council and board member of the TiE entrepreneurs. Tweet @imranhakim
Mike Perls
		Mike Perls is the founder and CEO of MC2, the North's leading marketing and communications consultancy. Since 1999, he has taken MC2 from a two-man start up to a 40-strong business that is the envy of its competitors and that counts Deloitte, Kraft Foods, Wella, the NHS and CB Richard Ellis among its clients. Mike's own experiences have led him to become a champion of young entrepreneurs, and he acts as a mentor and investor to a number of up-and-coming business leaders. Named in the North West Business Insider's 42 under 42 class of 2006, Mike sits on the regional boards of both the Institute of Directors and the UK India Business Council Next Gen Network, chairs the North West arm of the Managing Partners Forum and is an active board member of the NSPCC's Child's Voice Appeal. Tweet @MikePerls
Mike Langford
		After spending just under two years in industry as a cost accountant, Mike joined the Envestors team in 2011. With an honours degree in International Business, Finance and Economics from Manchester Business School, Mike’s key responsibilities include implementing the investor readiness process and working with companies on their business plan, financials and valuation. As an active studier of CIMA, Mike has experience with company financials which provides a sound knowledge base to continue the development of Envestors’ operational activity within the North-West. Tweet @MikeLangfordMcr
Amin Amiri
		Harvard-educated Amin is one of the best-known figures in the North West business community. A former head of corporate finance at Grant Thornton, he went on to found Manchester-based venture capital firm a2e Venture Catalysts in January 2001. a2e Venture Catalysts is a unique catalyst in which Amin invests his own capital in niche sectors. Since then, he has acquired controlling stakes in 19 entrepreneurial businesses and achieved seven exits - making an average of 119 per cent ARR on his investments. The a2e portfolio now has an aggregate annual turnover and EBIT exceeding £100 million and £9 million respectively.
Peter Collins
		After an 18-year career within the hotel and leisure industry, Peter established his own hotel and leisure consultancy business, Peter Collins & Associates, that later merged with a competitor to become Management Services International Limited (MSI) in 1992. Peter, a founding director and shareholder of MSI, steered the private-equity backed company to be listed by the Sunday Times as the UK's 20th fastest growing company in 1998. Peter joined Business Link North West in 2007 as a growth company advisor, having previously worked as a voluntary advisor for the organisation in Kent, and was later promoted at access to finance specialist in 2008.
Mike Orme
		Mike began a career in accountancy in 1967, having trained with steel drum manufacturer, Van Leer (UK) Ltd. After a number of senior accountant positions within industry, Mike was appointed as finance director at Preston-based care provider, Ravenscroft Group, in 2000. During his time at Ravenscroft, Mike led the company through three trade acquisitions and the sale of two subsidiaries within the group. Mike joined Business Link North West in 2008 as a business advisor within the financial and professional services sector and later worked with Peter Collins as part of the organisation’s access to finance team.
Adrian Gare
		Adrian is an experienced corporate financier from a top ten accountancy background and has spent over 14 years advising companies on various types of fundraising, ranging from transactions, IPOs and business planning issues. He has particular expertise in medtech, IT and life sciences and in addition, holds the position of M&A Director at Instem Life Science Systems plc, which recently listed on AIM. Adrian is also non-executive Finance Director of two other manufacturing businesses based in the North West. He is a chartered accountant and has a degree in economics.