Yorkshire enterprise bags £15m investment for businesses across North of England

A Yorkshire-based social enterprise has secured £15m of funds to support businesses in the post-industrial areas of the North of England - the first of several planned funds.

The Business Enterprise Fund (BEF) has received an initial £7.5m cash boost from Big Society Capital, a social impact investor which works with Social Investment Scotland to connect investment with SMEs and social enterprises.   Chief executive of BEF, Steve Waud, said the organisation wants to increase its funding support in these post-industrial areas which it works.

He added: “It has taken a long time to secure this social impact funding and our ‘fund for the North’ is the first of its kind.

“We are currently developing additional social impact funds and hope to announce a further £15m early next year - this is all part of our continuing growth plans to help the North’s economy through supporting SMEs, where for every £1 we lend, over £4 is added to the local economy.

“In the next couple of years, our impact is set to equate to nearly £0.25bn.”

In its 2018 social impact report, BEF outlined plans to weave into the fabric of its operations, the UN Sustainable Development Goals, focusing on reducing inequalities and making these post-industrial areas more resilient and sustainable.

Steve added: “By 2022, we want to have a five per cent year-on-year increase on lending in the North of England - which is especially necessary in the current volatile economic environment - with this additional £15m funding we’re on track to do just that.”

Alastair Davis, chief executive of Social Investment Scotland, concluded: “The impact BEF is making on its communities via the businesses it’s helping is very exciting to us; we’re looking forward to working with them in the future and seeing how the £15m is distributed to organisations supporting disadvantaged areas.”