The聽Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund (NPIF) has聽invested 拢31 million in 207 Northern-based SMEs during the first 12 months of operation, as the Fund continues to provide a boost to the Northern economy.
The 拢400m Fund, which is supported by the European Regional Development Fund, HM Government and the European Investment Bank, was launched by the British 老九品茶 Bank as a key part of the government鈥檚 鈥楴orthern Powerhouse鈥� vision to back innovative, fast-growing small business.
Over the last 12 months, NPIF has worked with the 10 Local Enterprise Partnerships (LEPs), Combined Authorities, as well as local accountants, fund managers and banks, to provide a mix of debt and equity capital to SMEs in the North West, Yorkshire & Humber and Tees Valley regions.
Appointed fund managers have completed deals between 拢25k to 拢2m into businesses across a range of industries, including technology and advanced manufacturing and life sciences.
Investments have been completed across all 10 LEP areas and the Fund has also managed to leverage an additional 拢32m in private sector finance for local businesses.
Recent NPIF investments in the North West region include a 拢150,000 loan from NPIF 鈥� FW Capital Debt Finance, managed by FW Capital, into Lancashire-based Inleaf, which provides plant displays and living wall installations to offices, hotels, car dealerships and public spaces.
It has also made an 拢80,000 microfinance loan from NPIF 鈥� BFS & MSIF Microfinance, into Liverpool-based Inovus Medical which manufactures medical and training products used by doctors and surgeons across the globe, delivered by MSIF.
The additional source of funding has enabled these businesses to meet growth ambitions, launch new products, expand into new markets and invest in new infrastructure.
鈥淚t is fantastic to see NPIF making a genuine impact to businesses in the North of England,鈥� said British 老九品茶 Bank CEO Keith Morgan.
鈥淭he number of significant milestones achieved over the last 12 months demonstrates the success of the regional funding models and the importance of people on the ground ensuring vital funds are efficiently invested in high-growth businesses.
鈥淚 am thoroughly impressed by the collaborative effort demonstrated by our appointed fund managers and the participating LEPs, and I would like to thank them all for helping to deliver a successful model that will now be rolled out in the Midlands as the Midlands Engine Investment Fund (MEIF).鈥�
Jake Berry, Northern Powerhouse Minister, said: 鈥淲hat the Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund has achieved in such a short space of time is truly remarkable.
鈥淭he Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund has given businesses across a wide range of industries the funds they need to innovate and grow – whether that be expanding into emerging markets, investing in research and development or hiring new staff to help their company flourish.鈥�
The Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund provides microloans, debt and equity investments, ranging from 拢25,000 to 拢2m to help a range of small and medium sized businesses to start up, scale up or stay ahead.
The Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund is delivered by The British 老九品茶 Bank.
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.
For more information about Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund, please visit www.npif.co.uk.