Image caption: We Are Lidl Event - Runcorn Picture shows Sue Barnard (British Business Bank) Andy Walker (Lancashire LEP) Mark Gibbons (Business Finance Solutions) and Shaun Singh (Litra), Blackburn, Dec 21, 2017. (Photo/Jon Super 07974 356-333) jon@jonsuper.com www.jonsuper.com
3rd October 2018
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Businesses in Lancashire are being urged to apply for further support from the £400m Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund (NPIF), as the fund reaches 20 investments in the region worth a combined £5m.
The Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund (NPIF), delivered by British Business Bank, is a £400m investment vehicle that offers funding options, ranging in size from £25,000 to £2m, to businesses based in the 10 Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) areas that make up the Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund region. These options include microfinance, debt finance, and equity finance.
Since the Fund’s launch in February 2017, enquiries have come from growing businesses across a number of the region’s strongest performing sectors. These include manufacturing, technology, and professional & scientific services, which make up over 50 per cent of enquiries.
NPIF works in partnership with business support organisations across the public and private sector including Boost – Lancashire’s Business Growth Hub, to find companies in the region that require support, mentoring and advice. Through its Access to Finance (A2F) scheme, it supports entrepreneurs seeking an appropriate finance option. In the current programme, A2F has supported 170 Lancashire businesses, helping them to apply for £17m worth of funding.
Notable investments include Clitheroe based Loxta Hardware, a door hardware product manufacturer, which received £50,000 following an A2F review as well as growth mentoring from Boost. The funding was used to develop its product range and bolster innovative design and manufacturing techniques. The business is also eyeing opportunities for international expansion in European and Middle Eastern markets.
NPIF also completed a significant equity investment in Lancaster-based Relative Insight, which came out of Lancaster University’s linguistics and cyber security departments. It has developed a language analysis technology that can determine the age, gender and other characteristics from web conversations and is already working with customers across the globe.
Grant Peggie, Director at British Business Bank, said: “Lancashire is brimming with exciting growing businesses that have huge amounts of untapped potential. NPIF’s role is to support the ambition shown by entrepreneurs across the region, and to provide funding that will help these businesses reach the next phase of growth.
“We are proud to have already provided £5m of investment to Lancashire-based companies so far, and this figure will grow throughout NPIF’s lifecycle. We are also thankful to the Lancashire LEP and our other partners in Lancashire who have worked with us to provide support and advice to businesses in need of financial backing.”
Philip Hargreaves, Head of Access to Finance said: “NPIF plays an important role within the funding eco-structure of Lancashire, helping small businesses to access a range of finance options which would otherwise not be available. Whilst A2F works closely with NPIF Fund Managers it does take a “whole of market” approach when looking at options for its clients ensuring that businesses get access to the right funding steams for their businesses. This if often via a mix of funds provided by both the private and public sectors.”
Lancashire’s Boost service is funded by the Lancashire Enterprise Partnership (LEP). Edwin Booth DL, chair of the LEP, said: “The LEP’s remit is to drive inclusive economic growth and create jobs across Lancashire. Helping ambitious businesses to thrive is therefore a key driver, and one of our strategic priorities.
“However, access to funding can present a major challenge to firms who want to grow, which is why we warmly welcome the substantial investment delivered through the NPIF initiative.”
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.
Photo Caption – Left to right: Andy Walker, Lancashire County Council, Sue Barnard, British Business Bank, Shaun Singh, Loxta, Mark Gibbons, BFS
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