Useful Links

Funding Inspiration Presentation
The North West Fund and Access to Finance North West have been running a number of Funding Inspiration Taster events to educate SME's on the funding options currently available to them. Please see a copy of the Presentation here:

Presentation

Access to Finance A2F
http://www.a2fnw.co.uk/news-c8.html

No matter what type of business you have, there's no avoiding the fact that finance can be fundamental to success. Securing funding in today's market can be a complex and difficult task, requiring time and specialist understanding of the various finance options. 

Access to Finance deliver Finance & Investment Ready workshops for business owners seeking to improve their financial knowledge in an interactive peer to peer learning environment. For more informtion please click here

AXM Venture Capital
http://www.axmvc.co.uk/

AXM Venture Capital (AXM) is a specialist digital and creative industries investor, with an interest in investing across the whole information and communication technology spectrum.

Bionow
http://www.bionow.co.uk/

Bionow supports the biomedical community in Northwest England. Responsive to the changing needs of the industry we provide strategic and practical solutions to support business growth and create an environment for continued development and investment.

British Business Angels Association
http://www.bbaa.org.uk

The British Business Angels Association is the only trade association dedicated to promoting angel investing and supporting early stage investment in the UK.

British Venture Capital Association
http://www.bvca.co.uk

Business Link North West
http://www.businesslink.gov.uk/northwest

Chemicals Northwest
http://www.chemicalsnorthwest.org.uk/

Chemicals Northwest is the industry-led chemical cluster support organisation for the £10.2 billion NW chemical sector.

CT Investment Partners
http://www.ctip.co.uk/

CT Investment Partners LLP ("CTIP") is one of Europe's leading co-investors in clean technology companies with the ability to assess risk as an informed industry insider.

Enterprise Ventures
http://www.evgroup.uk.com

Enterprise Ventures (EV) is a very active investor of venture and growth capital to interesting, high potential, unquoted businesses throughout the UK.

Envirolink Northwest
http://www.envirolinknorthwest.co.uk/

Envirolink Northwest aids the development and growth of the energy and environmental technologies and services sector in the Northwest of England.

ENWORKS
http://www.enworks.com/

ENWORKS is the Northwest's environmental business support service.

European Investment Bank
http://www.eib.org

The European Investment Bank (EIB) furthers the objectives of the European Union by making long-term finance available for sound investment.

European Regional Development Fund
http://www.erdfnw.co.uk

The European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) Programme allocates funding to different regions throughout the European Union to boost economic development in less prosperous areas.

In the Northwest the NWDA is responsible for managing the ERDF and has been allocated €755 million to spend on the region between 2007 - 2013.

Food Northwest
http://www.foodnw.co.uk/

Food Northwest is the strategic body representing the Northwest Food & Drink Industry. Food Northwest is tasked with boosting the growth of this dynamic industry, and aims to help businesses in the sector maximise their economic potential and increase productivity and output, through training workshops, networking meetings, meet the buyer events and exhibiting at trade shows.

FW Capital
http://www.fwcapital.co.uk/northwest

FW Capital invests in businesses seeking commercial funding to develop and grow.

High Growth Programme
http://www.highgrowthprogramme.co.uk/

The High Growth programme is a three year business coaching initiative aimed at 'high growth' businesses and entrepreneurs. It will support budding entrepreneurs with ideas that can achieve a turnover of £500,000 within three years, and established SME's with ambition and capacity to expand by at least 20 per cent a year.

ICAEW Business Advice Service
www.businessadviceservice.com

The ICAEW Business Advice Service offers SMEs and start-ups a free initial consultation with an ICAEW Chartered Accountant at more than 3,000 locations around the country. A chartered accountant can help with you a range of issues from dealing with the taxman or preparing your accounts, to applying for bank loans or creating a robust business plan.

Find an ICAEW firm offering the Business Advice Service by searching their directory and looking for the BAS symbol. Visit www.businessadviceservice.com and call or email one of their advisers.

Liverpool Vision
http://www.liverpoolvision.co.uk

Liverpool Vision is the economic development company charged with the city's physical and economic regeneration. It will lead the next phase of the city's transformation.

The company was established at a critical stage in the city's urban and economic renaissance and it is now focused on building a strong, sustainable economy which can compete more effectively in international markets. 

Manufacturing Advisory Service (MAS)
http://www.mas-nw.co.uk/

MAS is designed to help manufacturers streamline processes, reduce waste, become more energy efficient and generally improve their business.

Natwest - Report
http://www.natwest.com/commercial/planning/g3/the-shape-of-the-british-industry.ashx

Report on the Shape of the British Industry - June 2011

Northwest Aerospace Alliance (NWAA)
http://www.aerospace.co.uk/

The NWAA is the flagship organisation representing some 750 member companies and stakeholders involved in the UK's premier aerospace cluster and the model for industry-led organisations throughout Europe.

Northwest Automotive Alliance
http://www.nwautoalliance.com

The Northwest Automotive Alliance is an industry-led cluster organisation to provide a focal point for the region's automotive sector. The Northwest is the UK's second most important automotive region and employs over 43,000 people with a sector value of £9billion.

Northwest Textiles Network
http://www.nwtexnet.co.uk/

NWtexnet is a specialist company to support and develop technical textile (AFM) companies in the North West.

Northwest Vision and Media
http://www.visionandmedia.co.uk/

Vision+Media exists to help grow the digital and creative industry in England's Northwest. We do this by delivering projects and programmes that help creative companies and individuals (at all levels) in TV, Radio, Publishing, Music, Games, Film and Digital and Creative services. We help productions find locations and staff in the region. And we also support creativity and culture e.g. film festivals and archives.

The Northwest Regional Development Agency (NWDA) manages or funds a number of finance products aimed at helping businesses start up and expand.

SPARK Ventures
http://sparkventures.com

SPARK Ventures is a leading European early stage venture capital company.