Two burgeoning NW firms on growth path after funding deals with NPIF II
Two North West businesses are planning for expansion following funding support from the Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund II.
Asia Travel Specialist (ATS), a Stockport-based travel company has secured £50,000 from NPIF II-GC Business Finance & River Capital Smaller Loans, which is managed by the consortium as part of the Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund II (NPIF II).
Liverpool-based tech start-up, Marko Marketing, has also secured a £35,000 loan from the same source.
ATS said the funding will support plans to expand its operations and further develop its innovative platform for the UK travel trade.
With strong connections across Asia, ATS partners with UK travel agents, offering knowledge and years of personal experience stemming from the time its founder, Andy Carroll, spent living in Vietnam.
ATS also provides exclusive access to market-leading rates in South East Asia, with its services providing luxury tour operators with bespoke packages and insights, supporting them in offering exceptional travel experiences to their clients.
The business is currently in the testing stages of a new platform designed to make it easier for UK travel agents to create and customise travel packages for clients. The platform will streamline the current process, allowing agents to build packages quickly and efficiently, while still having access to expert advice and support from ATS.
Feedback from the testing stage will be used to perfect the system, ensuring it meets the needs of both agents and customers.
ATS currently employs four staff and, after securing NPIF II funding, plans to create six new roles in the North West over the next year.
Last year revenues reached £1m and with the support of NPIF II, ATS said it is set to continue growing.
Andy Carroll said: “The NPIF II funding from GCBF will really help us to develop our new platform, supporting us as we scale our business and better serve our clients.”
Joanne Barlow, investment manager at GC Business Finance, said: “Asia Travel Specialist is a prime example of a business with huge potential and a clear vision for growth.”
L-R:Sarah Barton (Apex Trinity) Ben Abernethy, Sue Chambers, Frances Kelner (Apex)
Founded by tech entrepreneur Ben Abernethy in October 2024, Marko Marketing has developed an affordable, AI-powered marketing platform designed specifically for small businesses that struggle to access effective marketing tools due to budget and resource constraints.
Introduced to River Capital by Apex Trinity Consulting, which supported with business planning and growth strategy, the funding will support Marko’s launch phase, including product development, marketing activities, and the engagement of IT contractors to assist with ongoing software improvements.
The innovative platform brings together multiple marketing functions into one easy-to-use system, including content creation, social media scheduling, analytics, SEO tools, and email marketing capabilities.
Sue Chambers, Investment Manager at River Capital, said: “Marko addresses a clear gap in the market for affordable marketing tools designed specifically for small businesses. Ben’s extensive experience in both IT and marketing has enabled him to create a solution that truly meets the needs of smaller businesses.”
Ben Abernethy said: “This investment from River Capital is crucial in helping us bring our innovative marketing platform to market. We’ve designed Marko to remove the complexity and high costs associated with effective marketing, making these tools accessible to businesses of all sizes.
“The early feedback from our test users has been overwhelmingly positive, and we’re excited to start welcoming our first paying customers.”
