Ambitious businesses need funding to grow and achieve their goals. It is here the role of regional investment funds are playing a critical role to bridge the funding gap.
The North East Elevate Fund, which is managed by FW Capital, has been helping small business owners realise their growth aspirations. The Fund is part of the North East Mayor Kim McGuinness’ £100m regional investment framework administered by The North East Fund. It delivers tailored financial packages starting at £25,000, and is scaling up to investments of £1million for more established businesses.
One example of this is award-winning aesthetic practitioner Rebecca Price who has secured £25,000 investment from the North East Elevate Fund to support the continued growth of her business and the opening of her luxury Sunderland clinic, Price & Co.
Operating from the beautifully restored Printworks on Holmeside, Rebecca Price Aesthetics offers a discreet, premium experience, specialising in natural facial rejuvenation. Rebecca has a reputation for achieving elegant, age-appropriate outcomes through advanced injectable and regenerative treatments, including dermal fillers, collagen-stimulating therapies and skin rejuvenation.
Price & Co brings together a carefully selected collective of independent health, medical and aesthetic professionals under one roof, including nurse practitioners, an in-house GP and a range of specialists dedicated to helping clients look and feel their best.
Rebecca Price, Rebecca Price Aesthetics said: “When I decided to launch my new premises at Price & Co I knew I wanted to offer more than just a clinic. I wanted to deliver a personalised luxury journey for everyone that comes through the doors. We’ve got a fantastic team of wellness and health practitioners that have joined me in the building.
Rebecca Price Aesthetics was the first unit to be taken and the investment from FW Capital and the North East Elevate Fund has helped me to fulfil my ambitions by setting up my own clinic as well as helping to scale up my business significantly by working alongside other specialists based at Price & Co.”
Another local business that has received funding is the National Learning Group who are scaling up operations and creating new jobs after receiving a seven-figure investment.
National Learning Group is an award-winning online tutoring service, which provides 1:1 tutoring to helping students to excel in their studies. It has recently located to a new office in Gateshead and has a registered office in Hexham. Their offering covers all age ranges from reception to adult learners with services including specialist exam preparation for GCSEs and A-Levels, adult skills training, and tailored support to meet each student’s unique educational needs. The tutoring services enrol 4,000 students a year with a carefully selected network of over 350 tutors.
Funding from the North East Elevate Fund is facilitating the firm’s next phase of growth enabling them to invest in their infrastructure. This includes the development of their own proprietary software to enhance the usability of their online tutoring systems. It is also strengthening its senior management team with some key new director appointments including Neil Stephenson as Chairman. It is also backing the development of a high-quality Alternative Provision Centre, which will provide facilities for children who are unable to attend mainstream schools and assist expansion into more commercial education opportunities.
Oliver Batten, Managing Director at National Learning Group said: “We’re experiencing significant growth and this funding is helping us to expand our presence. The addition of a new alternative provision educational centre means we can meet the increased demand for accessible high-quality tuition. We’ve been very pleased with the backing from FW Capital who have recognised our potential and are excited to have an investor on board who is aligned to our vision. Keith Charlton and the team at FW Capital couldn’t have been more supportive, they were patient and ensured we got the funding quickly. That speed and understanding allowed us to move from the planning phase to being fully operational without losing any momentum.”
What funding is available from the North East Elevate Fund?
The North East Elevate Fund can help businesses that may be at the start of their journey, or more established, with finance to help them grow and evolve. Loans are available on terms up to five years, and can be used for a variety of purposes including:
Working capital
Purchasing equipment
Recruitment
Marketing
Product/service development
ESG initiatives
Buying a business
To find about more about the North East Fund and its Elevate and Accelerate Funds, visit www.northeastfund.org If you want to find out how we can support your business please email info@fwcapital.co.uk or visit www.fwcapital.co.uk