Presentation by Tara Gillam, Business West

1. Start-up and Seed Funding
Tara Gillam @taragillam
Darren Westlake @crowdcube
Tom Jarman @tomajar
#Venturefest

2. Tara Gillam
Business West
Funding and Support for
Startups and how to access it

3. Content
• Business West
• Who we are
• What we do
• Ready for Business Programme
• Startup Loans
• SWIG Start-Ups
• Virgin Startup
• Non Start-up Business Finance/Funding
• Contact Details

4. Who we are
 One of the most influential business leadership organisations
in the UK
 Work with & represent over 16,000 businesses in
Bristol, Bath, Gloucestershire, Swindon and Wiltshire as well
as across the wider South West
 Over 200 Employees and an annual Turnover of about £18M

5. What we do

6. Ready for Business
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National Business Start-up Programme
Funded through the BIS’s Regional Growth Fund
Assists start-ups in Business Planning and Accessing Finance
Funded available to March 2015
In the last 18 months the south west has:
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Engaged with over 1,200 potential business owners
Over 1,000 people have attended our 1 Day workshop
900 business diagnostics have been delivered
Provided 1 to 1 support to over 450 new businesses
Helped 180 businesses to start trading
Created 40 additional jobs

7. The Programme Overview

8. Startup Loans
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Government Supported Programme
Founded by Lord Young
Chaired by James Caan
Fund pot of £117.7M available March 2015
To date - £47.7M Investment granted to over 9,600 Businesses
Age cap of 30 was lifted in October and now available to
businesses in Wales and Northern Ireland
• 6% APR and up to £10K (up to £20K for exceptional ideas)
• Pre and New Starts (up to 12 months trading)

9. SWIG Start-Ups
• South West Delivery Partner
for the Start-up Loans Scheme
• Business West is their business support delivery partner
• Over £2M available (over 300+ loans) by March 2014
• Pre-Start Up and New Businesses (up to 12 months trading)
• 10K loans available on application (business plan required)
• As of 1st October 2013 a PILOT PARTNER for the Over 30’s
delivery of this loan fund!
• Access to other fund pots through their parent group “South
West Investment Group” (SWIG).

10. Virgin Startup
• Launched 24th October 2013
• National Delivery Partner to Startup
Loans Company
• Business West are their business support delivery partner for
the south west
• Over £2M available (over 300+ loans) by March 2014
• Pre-Start Up and New Businesses (up to 12 months trading)
• Loans up to £25K available (business plan required)
• Virgin Companies including: Virgin Media, Virgin Trains and
Virgin Atlantic will be offering support to clients going through
this programme

11. Non start-up Business Finance/Funding
• Traditional Banks
• We have links with the top banks and an understanding of
their lending requirements
• South West Investment Group Services (SWIG)
• South West Loans Fund
• Microcredit Fund
• South West Angel Investment Network (SWAIN)
• Equity Finance
• Crowd Funding

12. Contact
• For more information contact Business West’s Business
Startup Support Team
T.
E.
W.
01275 376 233
readyforbusiness@businesswest.co.uk
www.businesswest.co.uk/startup