British Business Bank Northern Ireland

Exciting Growth for AES Global! 🚀 Cookstown-based AES Global Ltd, a leader in wireless intercom systems, has secured a £600,000 loan from the Investment Fund for Northern Ireland, facilitated by Whiterock. This investment will help accelerate AES Global’s growth, including further expansion into the US market and new international territories. Since its founding in 2005, AES Global has grown from a small startup to a global player with offices in Cookstown, London, and Florida, and the company is now exploring new opportunities in Australia and the Far East. The loan will enable the company to enhance its product offerings and continue building its talented team of 51 employees.

Marc and Emily launched Considered Co in Coleraine, a zero waste and refill shop, after securing a £20,000 Start Up Loan. They’ve focused on practical steps like sourcing from local suppliers and using recyclable packaging to be as green as possible.

Are you a woman founded business seeking finance or investment? Join our webinar with Women in Business NI to find out more about our 70m Investment Fund specifically for NI based businesses 🚀 ✨ Key highlights:  - Get to grips with the funding options available - Get first hand insights from women founders wo have already secured investment - Hear from finance experts and fund managers. 🗣️ Speakers include: Sue Barnard, our Senior Investment Manager Jenna Mairs, Finance Director at Whiterock Sian Mclaughlin, Investment Manager at Clarendon Fund Managers 📆 21 November, 10:00 am | Book your free slot here: https://lnkd.in/dr3EkzRA

Manufacturing in Northern Ireland? 👩🏭 Join us alongside MCS Group | Your Specialist Recruitment Consultancy for a breakfast event tailored to manufacturing businesses looking to fuel growth through funding. 📆 20 November, 9:30am. Dungannon | Book your slot here: https://lnkd.in/gcvmFbeS This session will focus on the Investment Fund for Northern Ireland , a £70m fund offering both debt and equity financing designed to support innovation, create local opportunities, and expand access to finance for businesses that may face traditional funding barriers 💪 You'll hear manufacturing industry growth insights from Kirsty Dillon of MCS Group and funding experts. You'll be able to speak directly to our fund managers Whiterock and Clarendon Fund Managers and manufacturing companies that have leveraged funding to accelerate their growth.

Big News for needi!🌟 Needi, the female-founded, AI-powered corporate gifting service based in Armagh, has received £450,000 funding from the Investment Fund for Northern Ireland. With clients like KPMG, Microsoft, Spotify, and Virgin, needi CEO, Louise Doyle, has developed an impressive gift-matching algorithm that doesn’t just pick the perfect gift—it aligns with each client's ESG and sustainability goals 💚✨ This investment fuels a mission that’s more than just gifting; it’s about transforming how companies show appreciation and strengthen relationships—all while keeping values and sustainability front and centre. 💼🌍

Bridging the gap between pre-seed and seed investment is essential for founders looking to scale their businesses in Northern Ireland. At our recent Investment Fund for Northern Ireland Round Table event, Dr. Pragya Sharma, CEO of Gran Lab Ltd., emphasised the need for better support for founders beyond the idea stage. 🌟 Key higlights: · Early-stage grants are helpful, but not enough to support scaling. Founders need access to larger funding, especially for crucial expenses like equipment. · Angel investment plays a critical role in accelerating business growth. · More focus is needed on building a robust angel ecosystem. · Proposals like extending SEIS and EIS tax reliefs could incentivise more angel investors to support early-stage companies.

Vocus Vit | Sustainable Activewear for Women owner Sarah-Jane Murray is one of 14 business owners announced as Ambassadors of our Start Up Loans Company programme. After returning from Australia to her hometown in County Tyrone, Sarah-Jane started her sustainable activewear company in Northern Ireland. Sarah-Jane continues to empower woman and embrace sustainability through her fashion forward line made from recycled materials 💚 Our Northern Ireland Ambassador embodies the can-do mindset it takes to make a start-up successful! 💪

🚀 Female founders in Northern Ireland are making strides in the entrepreneurial landscape, but challenges remain. At our recent Investment Fund for Northern Ireland Round Table event, three inspiring female founders—Maebh Reynolds (GoPlugable), Melanie Harrison (Harrison Chambers of Distinction), and Dr. Pragya Sharma (Gran Lab)—shared their funding journey experiences. 🌟 Key takeaways: Encouragingly, none of the founders experienced gender bias in securing funding, but they agreed more capital needs to be available for female-led businesses. Progress has been made for businesses in Northern Ireland thanks to initiatives like AwakenAngels, a women-led investment syndicate focused on empowering female entrepreneurs. The focus must shift beyond mentorship to direct financial investment to drive real change.

We recently hosted a round table event celebrating our Investment Fund for Northern Ireland (IFNI), bringing together local business leaders to explore the access to finance landscape for smaller businesses in Northern Ireland. Hosted by Mark Sterrittk Sterritt, the event highlighted the fund's £70m impressive start, sharing early successes and future plans to help businesses scale through improved access to finance. There were some great insights from key NI voices including Maebh Reynolds (GoPlugable EV Charging), Melanie Harrison (Harrison Chambers of Distinction), Dr. Pragya Sharma (Gran Lab Ltd.) along with fund managers and government representatives.

51% of smaller businesses across Northern Ireland were using external finance in 2023 finds our #NationsAndRegions24 Tracker 💸 This is a 13% increase on 2022 and second only to Wales and the West Midlands for exceeding the UK average growth rate. Credit cards saw the largest upturn in use, growing to 16% in 2023 from 13% in 2022 💳 Read the full report here to find out more: https://lnkd.in/dFFK6JJU