Page 15 - Survey 2020: The Star Business

Wednesday,January22,2020 www.thestar.co.uk
THESTAR 15
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FINANCE
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ADVERTISEMENT FEATURE
A new beginning for Finance For Enterprise
2020 will mark an important milestone for Finance For Enterprise. Later this year we will celebrate our 35th an- niversary, and as part of our continued commitment to in- vest in and support business- es throughout the region, we are planning to expand our op- erations by relocating to new premises.
We’ve said farewell to our home for the past decade at the Doncaster Business Inno- vation Centre and moved to Oak House on Heavens Walk. It’s an exciting time and one which will see us continue to help SMEs overcome growth barriers by helping them to ac- cess vital funds.
As we began packing away our old premises, we found our very first lending ledger,
dating back to 1985. At that time, the local economy was facing its most radical changes in a generation, and the doc- ument revealed a fascinat- ing snapshot into the hopes, dreams and visions of local entrepreneurs. Perhaps un- surprisingly, it was manufac- turers and the retail sector which dominated those ear- ly lending applications, but some were also quick to seize on new market opportunities – with the silicon chip, along with its promise of greater productivity and efficiency, being at the top of many of those early wish-lists.
Since the first loan appli- cation was granted, Finance For Enterprise has contin- ued to grow and evolve. Since 2010, we have helped numer-
ous businesses across South Yorkshire and beyond to ac- cess more than £50 million of lending. This has prompted local entrepreneurs to tap in- to fresh market opportunities, and has enabled businesses to invest and innovate as well as building and retaining skilled workforces.
But what does this mean?
Our social impact report last year revealed a clear link between the ability of SME businesses to access capital and growth within the local and regional economy. Our lending during these three years has enabled business- es to add almost £100 million of value to the local econo- my; this in turn has resulted in new jobs being created, and many others being safe-
guarded. It has also given en- trepreneurs the opportunity to realise growth ambitions and carve out bright new fu- tures for themselves and their businesses.
We are a delivery partner for the Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund and Start Up Loans UK. This helps to ensure we are able to support both new and established business- es across a variety of sectors.
If you’d like to know more about how Finance For Enter- prise can help your business to grow, call 0333 014 3455, or alternatively why make an appointment to visit us? Our new address is: Oak House, Heaven’s Walk, Doncaster, DN4 5HZ. Arthur Foreman, Joint Managing Director, Fi- nance For Enterprise
Arthur Foreman.