Business angels eager to give start-ups wings

Ambitious businesses in Lancashire have the chance to access growth funding from potential investors following the launch of Lancashire Business Angels by key players in the county’s financial and professional services sector.

Created by Steve Wall, manager with Access to Finance, part of Boost Business Growth Hub, the organisation will pair fast-growing businesses with high net worth individuals (HNWIs) seeking investment opportunities in the county’s burgeoning corporate sector.

Founding partners of Lancashire Business Angels are accountants and business advisors Beever and Struthers and MHA Moore & Smalley, law firms Forbes and Napthens Solicitors, NatWest and Barclays Bank and the University of Central Lancashire’s Investment Readiness Programme.

The organisation plans Dragons’ Den-style events at which firms can pitch products and ideas to experienced investors offering potential growth funding, expert advice on specific areas such as research and development, general business mentoring, the opportunity for an investor to hold a non-executive role on a board of directors, and networking.

Details of venues, dates and times of events, the investors involved and businesses that can benefit from attending will be made available this Autumn.

Iain Round, partner at the Blackburn office of Manchester-based Beever and Struthers, said: “As a growing business specialising in the provision of tailored financial advice to other ambitious firms in Lancashire, we have a unique understanding of the challenges faced by businesses.

“Thanks to Steve’s initiative, Lancashire Business Angels will be a fantastic platform to promote not only our services but community, commerce and trade in Lancashire.

“It’ll be great to see the county’s businesses coming together and benefiting from the advice and financial support of tried and trusted investors to ultimately benefit the wider county economy.”