FW Capital strengthens North team after NPIF funding boost

FW Capital is increasing its investment activity across the North after receiving an additional £9.48m funding boost as part of the Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund (NPIF). Paul Griffiths also joins FW Capital as an Investment Executive, strengthening the North East team.

An experienced banker, Paul has over 30 years’ financial services experience working previously for Handelsbanken, Santander and HSBC. His most recent position was Innovation Manager at the University of Hull working on the innovation and grant support programme Sparkfund.

In his role as Investment Executive at FW Capital Paul will be responsible for providing funding to Northern businesses from the Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund. The additional £9.48m funding increases FW Capital’s Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund allocation to £172m.  This is from a starting position of £102m when the Fund was first established. FW Capital manage the NPIF - FW Capital Debt Finance funds across the North West, Tees Valley & Cumbria.

Commenting on joining FW Capital Paul Griffiths, Investment Executive said: “The Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund is playing a key role in driving the growth of businesses across the North. I’m looking forward to working with business owners to support innovation and expansion, encouraging new jobs and opportunities which will support the local economy. I really enjoy getting under the skin of businesses and understanding how we can help them to reach their potential. My role at FW Capital will help me to develop this further.”

Joanne Whitfield, FW Capital Fund Director added: “Paul’s appointment will further strengthen our team’s credentials. He has an impressive background in financial services and is passionate about supporting the region’s businesses. His combination of banking experience and working on Sparkfund has given him a wider perspective of the challenges businesses are facing when approaching organisations for finance. Understanding businesses and creating personal relationships is very important to us and sets us apart. Paul’s approach and experience is a perfect fit.”  

FW Capital can provide loans of £100,000 to £750,000 in the NPIF region with a focus on Cheshire, Cumbria, Greater Manchester, Lancashire, Merseyside, and the Tees Valley.

The Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund project is supported financially by the European Union using funding from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) as part of the European Structural and Investment Funds Growth Programme 2014-2020 and the European