Sustainability experts Positive Planet are embarking on an exciting stage of growth after receiving a six-figure investment boost from NPIF II-FW Capital Debt Finance, which is managed by FW Capital as part of the Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund II (NPIF II).
Positive Planet is a leading sustainability consultancy supporting more than 500 businesses across the UK with ESG reporting and strategies to achieve net zero emissions. They offer tailored support on everything from measuring carbon footprints to delivering impactful sustainability programmes.
Co-founders Adam White and Stephen Henry launched Positive Planet four years ago with the aim of helping businesses to protect our planet for future generations. Earlier last year the firm relocated to new offices on Sixty Fountain Street in Manchester city centre.
This recent investment is another step forward in the company’s expansion plans and is providing working capital to support their rapid growth and the creation of 13 new jobs. It is supporting the firm’s expansion into broader areas of ESG reporting, which will enable them to work with SMEs, and corporate businesses who need to meet different compliance networks and trading requirements with the Government. Positive Planet partnered with Nick Chapman from Complete Business Finance who introduced them to FW Capital.
Adam White, Co-founder at Positive Planet explains: “We launched Positive Planet with a belief that climate change presented a need for companies to future-proof their operations and most had little idea of how to get started or what to do. It’s here that our team can support them. What sets us apart is our focus on delivering a return on investment for businesses that we work with so they can consider what they can get back from their sustainability focus. We’ve invested our own money into the business so far but we’re now looking to take the business to the next level. At this stage of our growth, traditional lenders haven’t been able to offer the kind of support we require so the backing of the NPIF II Fund and FW Capital will be instrumental in driving this next part of our growth. It’s really important that we work with a funder who understands our business.”
Laura Rees, Fund Manager at FW Capital said: “Positive Planet is a young and rapidly growing business that is leading the charge to support organisations to move from intent to positive impact with regards to sustainability and future proofing their business. Adam and Stephen have established a forward-thinking niche business that has been growing quickly and needed access to additional working capital to meet this pace.”
Sue Barnard, Senior Investment Manager at the British Business Bank, said: “Supporting ambitious businesses that are helping to drive the transition to a more sustainable economy is a key priority for the British Business Bank. Positive Planet is a great example of a North West business doing exactly this, while also creating skilled jobs in the region and driving economic growth. NPIF II is designed to help more ambitious companies like Positive Planet scale, innovate and break down traditional barriers to finance.”
The £660m Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund II (NPIF II) covers the entire North of England and provides loans from £25k to £2m and equity investment up to £5m to help a range of small and medium sized businesses to start up, scale up or stay ahead.
The Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund II aims to build on the success of the initial fund, with the purpose of driving sustainable economic growth by supporting innovation and creating local opportunities for new and growing businesses across the North of England.
The Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund II will increase the supply and diversity of early-stage finance for the North’s smaller businesses, providing funds to firms that might otherwise not receive investment and help to break down barriers in access to finance.
