FW Capital is celebrating a key milestone after investing over £5 million of NPIF II - FW Capital Debt Finance into 14 businesses across the North since the launch of NPIF II earlier this year.
The investments have been across a wide range of sectors from manufacturing to education with an average deal size of £350,000.
Liverpool-based, Prime Transport Planning is one firm that is making significant investment in new technology and its senior team after receiving a six-figure funding boost from NPIF II – FW Capital Debt Finance which is managed by FW Capital and is part of the Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund II.
Established in 2016 by David Schumacher, Prime Transport Planning is one of the UK’s leading independent transport planning consultancies, working with developers, architects and local authorities. The NPIF II funding is supporting recruitment plans to strengthen Prime Transport Planning’s senior leadership team and its next generation of talent through the creation of new graduate roles. Further investment is being made in new hardware, software including CAD technology and updating the branding and marketing materials.
David Schumacher, Director and Owner at Prime Transport Planning said: “Increased demand for green energy, additional housing, warehousing and sports and leisure activities means we are operating in a buoyant market. The new Government will also bring potential changes to planning policies that will support the delivery of projects in these sectors, so it’s crucial we are best placed to support our existing and new clients.
“We are leading the field with our expertise and credentials and have already welcomed two new members of the team using the NPIF II - FW Capital funding. We plan to recruit more members of staff to strengthen our team further, demonstrating our commitment to growth. The funding has made this much easier. Carol’s friendly approach has been a massive help and she’s always been available at the end of the phone. We’re in a great position to take the business to the next level.”
Carol Bolland, Investment Executive at FW Capital said: “It’s great to provide the investment Prime Transport Planning need to realise their growth ambitions. The increased demand for their consultancy expertise has fuelled this growth and it is a great example of a dynamic Liverpool business leading their field and expanding their customer base.”
Sue Barnard at British Business Bank, said: “Since the launch of NPIF II the demand for funding has been encouraging and it is good to see FW Capital reach this important milestone. We’re looking forward to increasing our support to businesses across the Northern Powerhouse region.
“Firms like Prime Transport Planning are a fantastic example of how NPIF II is helping support expansion. The increased demand for transport planning services has resulted in a period of high growth for Prime Transport Planning. The business is now looking to expand the team to drive further growth, and the NPIF II funding will allow it to bolster both its senior leadership and graduate recruitment – a brilliant example of a business using the Fund to unlock potential and create jobs in the regional economy.”
NPIF II - FW Capital Debt Finance can provide loans in the NPIF II area with a primary focus on the North West regions of Cheshire, Cumbria, Greater Manchester, Lancashire and Merseyside.
The £660m Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund II (NPIFII) 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 opportunity 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. FW Capital provides debt finance options from £100,000 to £2million to businesses based in the North West of England.
