Finance experts offer support
Business owners and entrepreneurs in Lancashire are being urged to make the most of a service giving them access to a team of finance experts to help them become investment-ready, source and secure growth finance.
Access to Finance; which is part of Boost; Lancashire’s Business Growth Hub, offers fully funded, one-to-one support to ambitious companies.
It has put together a team of five advisers who will work with them to improve their financial planning, advise on the most appropriate type of growth finance, prepare funding applications and liaise directly with investors and lenders through the application process.
The team includes former bank managers, business owners, and equity advisers with a combined experience of more than 140 years across the business finance industry.
Boost’s current programme, which is funded by Lancashire County Council alongside the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) allocations of 10 local authorities, is currently due to end in March and businesses are being reminded to make the most of the service to support their growth ambitions.
Mark Gibbons, lead adviser at Access to Finance, said: “Recent analysis from the British Business Bank shows that external finance is on the rise among businesses both regionally and across the UK.
“We are seeing an increase in demand for finance support which is why we have invested in our team in recent months. We have five experts who can advise businesses across the full range of finance options, making sure they receive the best possible support every time they contact Boost.
“Our specialist team can help businesses of all sizes to ensure you have the correct finance in place. Get in touch to understand how our experts can support your growth ambitions.”
Access to Finance is managed by Lancashire County Council as part of Boost. Boost is funded by Lancashire County Council, the Department for Business & Trade (DBT), and UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) allocations from ten Lancashire partner local authorities.
Businesses in Boost’s local authority partner districts can access the Access to Finance service: Blackburn with Darwen Council, Burnley, Chorley, Fylde, Hyndburn Pendle, Preston, South Ribble, West Lancashire and Wyre.
The team has expertise in supporting businesses on a range of growth strategies including gaining equity investment, supporting an acquisition, trading internationally, expanding physical space, or developing a new product or service.
In addition to one-to-one support, the service operates an Investment Academy programme, which is delivered by the Access to Finance team alongside private sector partners.
The programme is designed to help businesses understand the process of an equity raise. Expressions of interest can be accessed via the Access to Finance website.
• To discuss how we can help your business on its finance planning and scale-up journey please contact me on 01772 430000
