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Back to Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund News – Issue 1

Q&A: Meet the Fund Manager

Name: Paul Taberner
Company: Enterprise Ventures
Job title: Investment Director
NPIF area: Yorkshire and Humber

Describe a typical day as a fund manager?

My day kicks off catching up on emails and going through the Northern business news to see what’s happening across our patch. I will then co-ordinate the activities of a 12-strong investment team to ensure everyone is engaging with the right businesses, intermediaries, brokers and accountants – and will also review key business plans to see how we can best structure new deals.

What is it like working with SMEs across the North?

Having been in the industry for 35 years, I’ve come across hundreds of businesses in a wide range of sectors. I really enjoy getting under the skin of high growth companies to understand their needs and how we can help with their expansion plans. There’s also a strong sense of collaboration in the North. We recently funded Electric Strings, which was a brilliant example of us working together with the LEP and Growth Hub to support a business in the Humber.

What characteristics do you look for in a new deal?

We want to work with growing businesses that have ambition, but are constrained by an availability of funding from mainstream lenders. If a company can demonstrate revenue growth and has the ability to create new jobs, then we want to hear from them.

What sectors should we keep an eye on in the North?

We’re very much a generalist lender, but I think the manufacturing sector is one to watch. The North continues to enjoy an industrial renaissance and it is an area that we will always be known for.

Proudest career achievement to date

Leading the Enterprise Ventures team and being successful in securing both the equity and debt mandates in Yorkshire. The team on the ground did a brilliant job managing the predecessor Finance Yorkshire Fund and everyone worked hard to submit the proposal. We were all really pleased when British Business Bank put their trust in us to deliver the funds.

What do you do in your spare time?

Road cycling, mountain biking and walking with my wife. I also enjoy watching Blackburn Rovers with my two lads (aged 19 and 22) – although I can’t see it being that enjoyable next season after being relegated.

The Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund project is supported financially by the European Union using funding from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) as part of the European Structural and Investment Funds Growth Programme 2014-2020 and the European Investment Bank.

Editors Notes