Posts Tagged ‘Colworth Science Park’
Bedford Business Fund appoints a locally-led Advisory Board
Posted by admin | Filed under Bedford & Kempston, Business, Economy
Prospective investors were introduced to the Advisory Board of The Bedford Business Fund at an event at Colworth Science Park last Tuesday.
The Bedford Business EIS Fund, which will be managed by the FSE Group, will seek to raise £500K to invest in businesses in the Bedford area over the next two years.
The Advisory Board, which will provide the local input and knowledge to guide the fund managers, is made up of Bedford business leaders. At the event, the Board members were introduced by Chairman, Justin Phillimore. They are:-
• Justin Phillimore – Group Finance Director, Charles Wells Ltd (Chairman)
• Dougie Hunter – Chief Executive, Aircraft Research Association (Deputy Chairman)
• Ian Carlisle – former Managing Director, Autoglass Ltd
• Nick Kier – Founding Partner, Lane & Holmes Estate Agents
• William Naylor – former Commercial Director, Gibbs and Dandy Group
Justin said:
“We believe the Bedford Business Fund is an important initiative to address the financing gap so many small companies are experiencing. Bedford is a great location to start a business and we think there is an important role we can play as a local community to support the next generation of business owners.”
During the evening, the appointed Fund Managers – the FSE Group – presented the fund prospectus and answered questions from the floor about the mechanics of the fund and the organisation’s track record in managing investments.
Summing up the evening, Richard called on local people with an interest to invest to “step up” to make Bedford the “best place in the country to start a new business”.
Richard added:
“Future jobs will come from entrepreneurs employing small numbers of people and we should do all we can to support those who have the courage to start something new and create local employment.”
For the fund prospectus and contact details, please visit:
http://thefsegroup.com/successful-launch-event-for-the-bedford-business-eis-fund/
Local business leaders join MP to launch Bedford Business Fund and Mentoring Scheme
Posted by admin | Filed under Bedford & Kempston, Business, Economy, Universities & Skills
A new, local initiative aimed at invigorating the economic recovery by investing in a new generation of start up and early stage businesses is planned for Bedford. One hundred local business leaders from Bedford attended the launch by MP, Richard Fuller at the University of Bedfordshire.
The proposed Fund, which will be advised by local business leaders and managed by South East Fund Managers Limited, an FSA regulated entity, will seek to raise an initial fund of £500,000 in units of £10,000.
This will be boosted by co-investment from Finance South East and national government schemes, with a potential total of £2 million. Investments will be made on a purely commercial basis, with the goal of maximizing financial returns to investors.
