25-03-2024

Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund II offers £660m option for small businesses growth

The British Business Bank has launched its new Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund II, a £660m fund which business on the Enterprise Zone can access.

The Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund II (NPIF II), aims to build on the success of the initial fund, with the purpose of driving sustainable economic growth by supporting innovation and creating local opportunity for new and growing businesses across the North.

The Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund II will increase the supply and diversity of early-stage finance for Northern smaller businesses, providing funds to firms that might otherwise not receive investment and help to break down barriers in access to finance.

Providing loans from £25k to £2m and equity investment up to £5m, the Fund will continue investing into companies operating within the North West, Yorkshire and the Humber and Tees Valley. It is now expanded to include the whole of the North East enabling businesses across the whole of the North to access the Fund to start up, scale up or continue on their growth journey.

Since the launch of the first Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund in 2017, over £1bn of direct and private sector co-investment has been facilitated to businesses.

Nine fund managers have been appointed to manage the Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund II. In the North West, GC Business Finance & River Capital will manage the smaller loans part of the fund (£25,000 to £100,000), FW Capital will be responsible for larger loans (£100,000 to £2 million) and Praetura Ventures will manage equity deals (up to £5 million).

The British Business Bank will be holding a roadshow of events for small business finance intermediaries across the region to provide more information about the Fund. Destinations include Newcastle (18th April); Manchester (24th April), Sheffield (30th April).

Applications for funding are made directly to the relevant fund managers who can be contacted via the NPIF II webpages northernpowerhouseinvestmentfund.co.uk.