About us

We help small businesses and social enterprises access the funding they need to start, grow and create jobs. When local businesses succeed, they create opportunities. For people. For families. And for the places they call home.

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Backing ambition that drives change

For over 20 years, we have supported businesses across the North of England to access finance they could not find elsewhere.

Not because their ideas were not good enough. But because traditional lenders often say no to businesses without long trading histories, assets or the "right" postcode.

We are here to change that.

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Finance should open doors, not close them

We believe talent and ambition exist everywhere. But opportunity does not.

That is why financial inclusion sits at the heart of what we do. We provide fair, accessible finance to people who are often overlooked by mainstream lenders.

Because when small businesses grow, they create jobs, support local supply chains and help communities thrive.

That benefits everyone.

We are proud to back businesses that create jobs, drive growth, and strengthen local communities.

£ 129.5m

Invested directly into small businesses

£ 518m

Generated for the region’s economy

17,610

Jobs created or safeguarded.

5,809

Clients supported and funded

Discover the people behind our vision

Our board
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Stephen Waud Chief executive
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Simon Jackson Director of investments
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Alex Beardsley Director
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James Mason Director
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Katie Hurrell Director
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Laurence Beardmore Director
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Penny Hembrow Director
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Tim Hamilton Chair
Our Yorkshire & The Humber team
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Doug Heseltine Senior Investment Manager
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Mark Iley Senior Investment Manager
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Chris Conroy Investment Manager
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Duane Walker Investment Manager
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Emma Bashforth Investment Manager
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Hilary Watson Investment Manager
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Amelia Balmi Portfolio Co-ordinator
Our North East team
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Lee Vickers Senior Investment Manager
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Anthony Nicholson Investment Manager
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Chris McGill Associate Investment Manager
https://uk.linkedin.com/in/claire-constable-82813630b
Claire Constable Associate Investment Manager
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Shannon Donaghy Associate Investment Manager
Our North West team
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Simon Truby Senior Investment Manager
Our Start Up Loans team
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Tim Burt Senior Investment Manager
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Habib Karimi Investment Manager
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Jane Cusse Investment Manager
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Julie Micklethwaite Investment Manager
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Amber Kershaw Associate Investment Manager
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Christian Elvidge Associate Investment Manager
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Abigail Bickerdyke Administrator
Our Administration team
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Tiffany Kilpin Contracts manager
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Joanna Staszak Fund administrator
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Laura Dandy Fund administrator

Real stories. Real impact.

Find out how we’re backing businesses to create jobs, drive growth and strengthen communities.

Explore our latest Impact Report

Collaborating for greater impact

Collaboration is key. These are the people we work with to make what we do possible.

Get in touch