Member Article

Business funding provider announces appointment of new Board members

Finance For Enterprise has appointed three senior members of South Yorkshire’s business community to help oversee the continued growth and development of the Doncaster-based alternative funding provider.

Bringing together a wealth of expertise and knowledge from across the region’s business sector, the three new board members include Dan Fell, Chief Executive of Doncaster Chamber of Commerce & Enterprise; Chris North, Business Banking Manager at Barclays Bank; and experienced Executive Director Chris Scholey. The trio will enhance the breadth of skills of existing Board members responsible for overseeing the strategic development of the not-for-profit organisation.

Finance For Enterprise helps growing businesses and new entrepreneurs to access the financial support needed to fulfil growth ambitions. The company acts as a Fund Manager for the British Business Bank on behalf of the Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund and supports businesses throughout Sheffield City Region, Humberside and Lincolnshire.

Chris Scholey began his career as a physicist before moving into the manufacturing industry, where he became Managing Director of Barnsley-based Rexams UK and later on became the Managing Director of the Renaissance South Yorkshire regeneration programme. He is currently a board member of the Sheffield City Region Local Enterprise Partnership and deputy chair of the Rotherham Council’s Business Growth Board.

Dan Fell, once the youngest CEO of a Chamber of Commerce, works closely with local business leaders to provide support and representation in shaping economic development within the Sheffield City Region. He regularly represents the views of local businesses to MPs, senior civil servants and the Bank of England.

Chris North is a Business Manager at Barclays Bank who has more than 30 years’ experience in supporting the business community, currently working exclusively within the SME sector. Outside of the world of corporate banking, Chris is an ambassador for Bluebell Wood Children’s Hospice.

In the last twelve months alone, Finance For Enterprise has helped businesses to access more than £8 million of business lending, contributing towards the creation of more than 560 new jobs, the safeguarding of 335 existing roles and the creation of over 200 new businesses within the local economy.

Michael Shepherd, Chairman, commented:

“Although it is now 10 years since the financial crisis, access to mainstream finance remains an issue for many SMEs. Alternative sources of funding continue to emerge, including the significant support provided by Finance For Enterprise towards business growth, resulting in new jobs, the protection of existing jobs and assisting new entrepreneurs entering the marketplace.

“Our new board members bring within them a wealth of knowledge and capability across the business and finance sectors, which will enhance our existing expertise. I am confident their experience and dedication to helping the local economy flourish will help us to continue breaking down the barriers which prevent businesses from accessing financial support at times when they need it most.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Finance For Enterprise .