Finance Yorkshire lends a helping hand to entrepreneurs
More than 4,000 entrepreneurs across the region received a helping hand from Finance Yorkshire recently, at the Business Link Enterprise Show 2010.
The newly-launched fund exhibited at all four of the Enterprise events, which were held in Sheffield, York, Leeds and Hull to provide free professional advice for people wanting to start up their own business.
Held annually, this year’s show attracted an impressive 4,235 entrepreneurs – a 27 per cent increase on last year’s total.
Jonathan Dixon, Interim Chief Executive of Finance Yorkshire, said: “Enterprise has never been so important for the region and it is really encouraging to see that the Business Link events attracted so many people.
“After the recent recession, the region’s economy needs to find its feet again and this can only happen if entrepreneurs have the help and support they need to set up new businesses.
“And at Finance Yorkshire, it’s our job to provide these new companies with the helping hand they need in today’s difficult market.”
Finance Yorkshire was launched earlier this year in a series of high profile networking events throughout Yorkshire and the Humber.
The Fund can provide seedcorn, loan and equity linked investments, ranging from £15,000 to £2m, specifically to help small and medium businesses meet the gaps in funding they need for growth and development.
Andy Kemp of Business Link Yorkshire, said: “We had a tremendous turnout at this year’s Enterprise Shows, with more people turning up than ever before.
“This is testament to the enterprising nature of the people of Yorkshire and it’s thanks to assistance from organisations such as Finance Yorkshire that entrepreneurs are able to recognise their dreams and turn their business ideas into reality.
“The launch of Finance Yorkshire has come at just the right time and our Enterprise Show has provided the perfect opportunity for them to offer their assistance to the businesses of tomorrow.”
Finance Yorkshire is supported financially by the European Union. It has attracted £30million investment from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) as part of Europe’s support for the region’s economic development through the Yorkshire and Humber ERDF Programme.
For more information about Finance Yorkshire, please visit www.finance-yorkshire.com or ring 0845 649 0000.
Note: this news article is from Finance Yorkshire’s previous fund. Read more about Finance Yorkshire