Image caption: 39696 MC2 1/2/19 NPIF GM Milestone Photography. L-R Jeremy Thompson , Anish Kapoor , Sir Richard Leese and Ken Cooper Picture by Chris Bull / UNP
4th February 2019
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The Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund (NPIF), delivered by British Business Bank, has invested £25m in ambitious, high-growth SMEs in Greater Manchester, to support expansion and job creation in the region.
Since its launch in February 2017, NPIF has delivered Equity Finance, Debt Finance, and Microfinance solutions, from £25,000 to £2m to businesses across the 10 Local Enterprise Partnerships (LEP) that make up the ‘Northern Powerhouse’ region.
To date, NPIF has completed 90 investments in Greater Manchester-based SMEs across a range of sectors. The region’s strength in the technology space and its manufacturing heritage was reflected in the investment figures, with over a third of the £25m total going in to these businesses.
Notable transactions include a £200k investment in Salford-based Safeway Contractors Limited, which provides infrastructure support and recruitment, such as mechanical fitters, plant operators, track gangs and critical safety staff to the railway industry. The investment from NPIF – FW Capital Debt Finance has been used to strengthen Safeway’s team to support its rapid period of growth, including the recruitment of 11 new staff members.
NPIF also completed a follow-on investment of £350k into the existing investee company Access Systems (UK) Limited. NPIF provided an initial £1m to the Manchester-based fintech firm in March 2018 through NPIF – Maven Equity Finance, and the company has since raised a further £9m from US venture capital firms. NPIF’s follow-on investment will support the business as it looks to expand its operations during 2019.
Sir Richard Leese, Deputy Mayor for Business and Economy said: “This is a remarkable milestone for the Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund – with £25m invested over two years, and 90 investments made.
“Business and industry have always been at the heart of Greater Manchester and as Deputy Mayor I feel it is important to support the continued growth of key sectors such as IT and technology, as well as to nurture our industrial skills.
“We will continue to help firms grow and thrive through initiatives like the Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund, which in turn will help to create jobs and opportunities for people across the city-region.”
Ken Cooper, Managing Director at British Business Bank, said: “Greater Manchester businesses have risen to the challenge of growth funding through NPIF. Over £25m worth of investment has been made in less than two years and we look forward to seeing the rate of investment rise as we deploy further capital. These companies are helping to boost economic prosperity in the North of England and reduce the disparities between the North and the South. That remains part of our mission and our fund managers are keen to find more ambitious SMEs for NPIF to back.”
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.
Maven Capital Partners UK LLP is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority, Firm Reference Number 495929
FW Capital Limited is regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority as a small authorised UK Alternative Investment Fund Manager under firm reference number 506719
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