By
Estelle Blanks
Estelle
is Executive Director of the Innovation SuperNetwork, who’s work to support
business growth by embedding innovative practice includes delivering access to
finance events, including Entrepreneurs of the North and FinanceCamp.
According to research by
Beauhurst, UK businesses saw the highest levels of investment on record in 2017.
Despite this, investment levels across the North East and Yorkshire fell
dramatically (34% and 10% respectively). The data also shows that public sector
backed investment fell across the country. But whilst other regions, including
the North West – or Manchester specifically, compensated with private
investment, this didn’t happen in Yorkshire or the North East.
Yet, in another piece of research
conducted
by the British Business Bank and the UK Business Angels Association (UKBAA), a
‘difficulty identifying good investment opportunities’ was highlighted as a
bigger concern for angels located in London and the South East than those based
regionally.
In the North East we recognise
that the challenge in bringing businesses and investors together is a two-way
street. Equally North East businesses feel they have less opportunity to engage
with national investors and we try to tackle this problem through tailored initiatives
to bring investors and Northern businesses together.
Next week, our annual FinanceCamp conference will take place in Sunderland (22nd May,
Stadium of Light). Attracting around 100 innovative businesses, the event
carefully matches enterprise with the right investors, lenders and grant
providers.
Our biggest access to finance
event of the year, this is a key opportunity for Angel investors, venture
capital funds and crowd funding platforms to come face to face with ambitious
North East businesses from all sectors and at all stages of growth. We work
closely with businesses to ensure they’re investment ready before the event and
get to know both our businesses and attending investors to ensure the
opportunity is maximised for both parties with carefully matched one-to-one
meetings.
Last month we also announced that
in partnership with the North East BIC, North Invest and UKBAA, we’ve been
awarded a £1m grant from Innovate UK to deliver one of three Regional
Angel Investment Pilots (AIP). The programme is designed to accelerate early stage Angel
investment in innovative companies across the wider North.
The pilot encourages investment in
innovative early stage companies by increasing the pool of regional angel
investors prepared to consider investing in earlier stage, ambitious,
businesses in the regions. As well as identifying suitable investment opportunities,
it will provide grants to businesses to deliver innovation projects with a view
to longer term business angel involvement and future commercial success.
These are just two opportunities
delivered throughout the year, alongside fast-paced London-based pitching
event, Entrepreneurs
of the North, and FinanceCamp at VentureFest in both the North East and Tees Valley.
If you’re interested in any of our
investor opportunities, then get in touch with the team via hello@supernetwork.org.uk
