Yorkshire scheme shortlisted for impact on community

A social enterprise offering a vital lifeline to businesses across West and North Yorkshire has been nominated for a national business award for its impact on the community.

The Business Enterprise Fund has made the shortlist of the national Citi Microentrepreneurship Awards in the Impact category.

In partnership with the CDFA, the awards celebrate excellence in community finance and will be presented at a prestigious ceremony on 12 February 2014 in Bristol.

Fund director Stephen Waud said the shortlist tops off a very successful year for BEF after an expansion, recruitment drive and a further £10m investment.

“We’re delighted to be shortlisted at the inaugural UK Citi Microentrepreneurship Awards who recognise the excellent work of community development finance institutions (CDFIs) in changing lives and communities,” he said.

“Our expansion into great new offices in Leeds and the creation of new jobs in 2013 has turned heads and we are now seen as a key player in supporting businesses get on their feet.

“We facilitated almost £3m worth of loans this year and we want to grow that in 2014 and lend £6m to boost businesses with the support they need.

“The shortlist will go towards building even more confidence in our offering and will show any SME doing business across Yorkshire that there are alternatives to finance.”

Ben Hughes, chief executive of the CDFA, said: “We were overwhelmed with outstanding applications from CDFIs that are using innovative and creative ways to provide finance to their local communities. The awards are an exciting opportunity to showcase the individuals and organisations that are changing lives, boosting economies and energising neighbourhoods. The judges were impressed with the inspiring work of Business Enterprise Fund.”

Bob Annibale, global director, Citi Microfinance and Community Development, added: “This is the first time we have brought the Citi Microentrepreneurship Awards to the UK so to have such quality, diversity and wide geographic spread of entries is truly impressive. It’s a real testament to the commitment and growth of the UK’s CDFI sector in recent years.”