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NEL Fund Managers reflects on a record 2025

NEL Fund Managers is marking a year of record-breaking delivery across the North East and Teesside, with 2025 having firmly established the organisation as the region’s most active provider of alternative finance.

A record year for investment

Over the past 12 months, NEL has completed more than 35 investments across the region, ensuring businesses at every point in their growth journey can access the capital they need; from backing emerging start-up businesses to securing the organisation’s largest-ever deal and multiple multi-million-pound investments. 

This ongoing investment reinforces NEL’s pivotal role in supporting ambitious SMEs across the North East, helping businesses accelerate their growth plans and build long-term resilience.

James Katirai, head of investments, said: “Over the past 12 months, NEL has undergone a significant transformation, marked by new leadership and an expanded investment team. 

“As a North East headquartered business, we pride ourselves on providing guidance on structuring deals and making credit decisions swiftly, always prioritising the client experience. 

“This agility has enabled us to secure several key mandates, including a multi-million-pound management buyout completed in December. 

“I personally am deeply committed to supporting the North East and I am delighted to be part of a team that helps businesses from Berwick to Teesside achieve their growth ambitions.”

Delivering real value to North East businesses

There are many examples of how NELs support and value add approach can drive real growth locally. Two recent highlights include:

EV Smart, the North East–based electric vehicle (EV) charging solutions provider, is scaling rapidly with NEL’s support. 

The ambitious business has received investment through the NPIF II – NEL Smaller Loans Fund to grow its operational, delivery and customer-support teams, enabling it to accelerate the rollout of reliable public EV charging across the region. 

With more than 450 charge points already under management and a pipeline of ultra-fast charging hubs in development, the partnership demonstrates how targeted funding and hands-on support can help a regional innovator expand its network, create skilled jobs, and contribute to the UK’s transition to zero-emission transport.

Durham-based JH Partners also secured a significant investment through the NPIF II – NEL Debt Finance Fund to strengthen its mechanical, electrical, and digital engineering design capabilities. 

The funding is supporting the recruitment of specialist staff and investment in advanced design software, enabling the consultancy to broaden its services and take on increasingly complex, sustainable construction projects.

These examples demonstrate how NEL’s flexible approach empowers ambitious firms to innovate and increase capacity and how NEL’s dedicated portfolio team plays a critical role in helping founders navigate strategic decisions, prepare for future growth and generate long-term value.

Providing finance across the full spectrum

NEL manages two British Business Bank funds that provide businesses with comprehensive access to finance:

• NPIF II – NEL Debt Finance Fund – provides loans from £100,000 to £2 million for businesses with growth potential based in, or with significant operations in, the North East and Tees Valley, including those relocating to the region.
• NPIF II – NEL Smaller Loans Fund – offers loans from £25,000 to £100,000 to support new and growing businesses based in, or with significant operations in, the North East and Tees Valley, including those relocating to the region.

Together, these funds enable support for everything from early-stage expansion to transformational strategic developments such as acquisitions, management buy-outs/buy-ins and succession planning. 

Offering ‘more than capital’, NEL is encouraging growth-minded companies to engage early and explore how finance can accelerate their next steps helping with value creation plans with one of the most experienced teams in the region.

Strengthening the ecosystem

Beyond dealmaking and value creation support, NEL has deepened its regional engagement through expert-led roundtables, focussed networking groups and events such as the Teesside Brunch Club and female founders fireside. 

This strategic input is helping shape the future of the region’s business environment and encourage broader ecosystem collaboration.

Looking ahead

Paul Scott, NEL’s chief executive, is not one to stand still. 

As he looks ahead, the energy is palpable.

He said: “2025 was a landmark year for NEL, and it’s the collective drive of our team, the trust of our clients, and the commitment of our investors that made it possible, thank you to everyone. 

“Together, we’re not only investing in businesses, but we’re also building a more resilient financial ecosystem that compounds when partnering with NEL as the only alternative finance provider that is headquartered in the region. 

“We have several exciting transformational projects in the pipeline for 2026, and I can’t wait to bring them to life. Stay tuned.”

Find out more about NEL Fund Managers, its evolution over the past 18 months and its future ambitions in our recent interview with chief executive Paul Scott here. 

You can also read our interview with James Katirai and find out more about NEL's commitment to supporting SME growth throughout the North East in our sister publication, N, here.

Stay up to date with NEL’s latest insights and investment news by following its LinkedIn page.

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