Leading fund manager FW Capital has announced the strategic expansion of its North East property team, appointing two new investment professionals to bolster support for regional developers and address the strong demand for funding to support both commercial and residential developments.
The expansion comes as FW Capital reinforces its commitment to bridging the "funding gap" for smaller developers, offering flexible solutions that provide up to 100% of build costs. This is helping to fuel property development across the North East and kick-start projects that drive job creation and economic regeneration. It also follows the opening of FW Capital’s office in Sheffield last year where the team focus on the delivery of the South Yorkshire Debt Fund.
Stuart Hodgson joins the firm as Investment Executive, specifically focused on identifying and supporting projects in Teesside. Stuart brings a wealth of experience from the corporate banking sector, having previously held roles at Santander Corporate and Lloyds Banking. His focus will be on ensuring local developers in Hartlepool, Middlesbrough, Redcar and Cleveland, and Stockton-on-Tees have the capital required to bring ambitious schemes to life using the Teesside Flexible Investment Fund. Outside of work Stuart is a keen drag racer, racing cars across the UK and Europe with his family.
Joining him is Adam Jones, appointed as Assistant Investment Executive. A qualified Chartered Accountant (ACCA) and Newcastle University graduate in Maths and Statistics, Adam joins FW Capital from Ernst & Young where he specialised in tax advisory accounting. Adam will work alongside the wider team to provide tailored financial structures for residential and commercial clients across Tyne& Wear, Northumberland, and County Durham using the North East Property Fund and North East Commercial Property Investment Fund.
In addition to these new hires, FW Capital is pleased to announce the promotion of Lesley Telford to Senior Investment Executive, further strengthening the leadership within the property division.
Chris Dixon, Fund Manager at FW Capital said: "Stuart and Adam are a great addition to the team. Their expertise will be vital as we continue to build lasting relationships across the region. Stuart’s focus on Teesside allows us to deepen our impact in a region seeing a significant surge in regeneration. I’m also delighted to announce Lesley Telford’s promotion, which is a testament to her hard work and dedication to the region’s property developers.”
The team manages a portfolio of funds on behalf of the North East Combined Authority (North East CA) and the Teesside Pension Fund, designed to stimulate economic development across Tyne & Wear, Northumberland, County Durham, and Teesside:
North East Property Fund (£20m): Targeted at small-scale residential and non-speculative commercial developments with loans from £250,000 to £2 million.
North East Commercial Property Investment Fund (£35m): Offering larger-scale loans from £1million up to £7 million for high-quality Grade A commercial projects.
Teesside Flexible Investment Fund (£20m): Providing £100,000 to £3 million for business acquisitions, property funding, and bond finance within the Teesside area.
