Nations and Regions Investment Funds FAQs

The Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund II (NPIF II) will deliver a £660m commitment of new funding through investment strategies designed to meet the needs of the businesses in the North of England. NPIF II aims to drive sustainable economic growth by supporting innovation and creating local opportunity for new and growing businesses across the North of England. NPIF II will increase the supply and diversity of early-stage finance for smaller businesses in the North, providing funds to firms that might otherwise not receive investment and help to break down barriers in access to finance.

The first Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund was launched in February 2017 and finished its investment phase in December 2023, having facilitated over £1bn of direct and private sector co-investment. The Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund II is the next iteration of the Fund which is larger in size and has been expanded to include the whole of the North East.

The funding option sizes have also been increased with Debt Finance now available up to £2m and Equity Finance now available up to £5m.

Yes, a company who received funding from NPIF can apply for NPIF II finance.

NPIF II does not invest directly in businesses. It invests through product funds which are managed by NPIF II’s appointed fund managers. The Fund will offer three commercial finance options with Smaller Loans from £25k to £100k, Debt Finance from £100k to £2m and Equity Finance up to £5 million.

NPIF II will offer three commercial finance options with Smaller Loans from £25k to £100k, Debt Finance from £100k to £2m and Equity Finance up to £5 million.

Enquiries and applications are made direct to NPIF II’s selected fund managers, full details of which can be viewed here. NPIF II cannot provide financial or business advice to businesses seeking funding and businesses may wish to engage their own accountant or business adviser if application assistance is required.

NPIF II covers the whole of the North of England, including rural, coastal and urban areas. Investments can be made in businesses that are headquartered in the North or have a significant operating presence there.

NPIF II has been designed to help address market failures by increasing the supply and diversity of early-stage finance for UK smaller businesses, providing funds to firms that might otherwise not receive investment. The product funds that NPIF II supports provide commercially focussed funding to businesses across the North. NPIF II’s product funds can invest alone or alongside other funders, and indeed NPIF II fund managers are encouraged to leverage-in additional private capital.

NPIF II’s product funds can invest alone or alongside other sources of debt or equity capital where appropriate.

Yes, you can still apply for NPIF funding if your company has received a BBLS or CBILS backed loan.

NPIF II will have an inclusive approach, but some eligibility criteria do apply to NPIF II funding and fund managers will be able to advise on suitability.

The Midlands Engine Investment Fund II (MEIF II) will deliver £400m of new funding through investment strategies that best meet the needs of the businesses across the Midlands. MEIF II is designed to build on the first Midlands Engine Investment Fund and continue to drive sustainable economic growth by supporting innovation and creating opportunities for new and growing businesses across the Midlands.

The fund will increase the supply and diversity of early-stage finance for smaller businesses in the Midlands, providing funds to firms that might otherwise not receive investment and help to break down barriers in access to finance.

MEIF II does not invest directly in businesses. It invests through funds which are managed by MEIF II’s appointed fund managers. The Fund will offer three commercial finance options with Smaller Loans from £25k to £100k, Debt Finance from £100k to £2m and Equity Finance up to £5 million.

MEIF II will offer three commercial finance options with Smaller Loans from £25k to £100k, Debt Finance from £100k to £2m and Equity Finance up to £5 million.

Enquiries and applications are made direct to MEIF II’s selected fund managers, full details of which can be viewed here. MEIF II cannot provide financial or business advice to businesses seeking funding and businesses may wish to engage their own accountant or business adviser if application assistance is required.

MEIF II covers the whole of the Midlands, including the West Midlands, East Midlands and South West Midlands. Investments can be made in businesses that are headquartered in the Midlands or have a significant operating presence there.

MEIF II has been designed to help address market failures by increasing the supply and diversity of early-stage finance for UK smaller businesses, providing funds to firms that might otherwise not receive investment. The funds that make up MEIF II provide commercially focussed funding to businesses across the Midlands. MEIF II’s funds can invest alone or alongside other funders, and indeed MEIF II fund managers are encouraged to leverage-in additional private capital.

MEIF II’s product funds can invest alone or alongside other sources of debt or equity capital where appropriate.

MEIF II will have an inclusive approach, but some eligibility criteria do apply to MEIF II funding and fund managers will be able to advise on suitability.

Bydd y Gronfa Buddsoddi i Gymru yn ymrwymo £130m o gyllid newydd trwy’r strategaethau buddsoddi gorau i fodloni anghenion busnesau yng Nghymru. Nod IFW yw gyrru twf economaidd trwy gynorthwyo arloesedd a chreu cyfleoedd lleol ar gyfer busnesau newydd ac sydd ar dwf ar draws Cymru. Bydd IFW yn cynyddu’r cyflenwad a’r amrywiaeth o gyllid cyfnod cynnar sydd ar gael i fusnesau llai ar draws Cymru, gan ddarparu cyllid ar gyfer busnesau na fyddai’n derbyn buddsoddiad fel arall o bosibl, ac yn helpu i chwalu’r rhwystrau i gael cyllid.

Nid yw IFW yn buddsoddi mewn busnesau yn uniongyrchol. Mae’n buddsoddi trwy gronfeydd cynnyrch sy’n cael eu rheoli gan reolwyr cronfeydd penodol IFW. Bydd y Gronfa’n cynnig tri opsiwn cyllid masnachol gyda Benthyciadau Llai rhwng £25k a £100k, gwerth rhwng £100k a £2 filiwn o Gyllid i Ariannu Dyledion, a Buddsoddiad Ecwiti o hyd at £5 miliwn.

Bydd IFW yn cynnig tri opsiwn cyllid masnachol sef Benthyciadau Llai o rhwng £25k a £100k, gwerth rhwng £100k a £2m o Gyllid i Ariannu Dyledion, a Chyllid Ecwiti o hyd at £5 miliwn.

Dylid cyflwyno ymholiadau a cheisiadau yn uniongyrchol i reolwyr cronfeydd dethol IFW, ac mae manylion llawn y rhain i’w gweld yma. Ni all IFW ddarparu cyngor ariannol neu fusnes i fusnesau sy’n chwilio am gyllid, a dylai busnesau ddefnyddio eu cyfrifydd neu gynghorydd busnes eu hunain os oes angen cymorth arnynt wrth baratoi’r cais.

Mae IFW yn cwmpasu Cymru gyfan, gan gynnwys ardaloedd gwledig, arfordirol a threfol. Gellir buddsoddi mewn busnesau sydd â’u pencadlys yng Nghymru neu sydd â phresenoldeb gweithredol sylweddol yno.

Dyluniwyd IFW i helpu i lenwi’r bylchau yn y farchnad trwy gynyddu’r cyflenwad o gyllid cyfnod cynnar sydd ar gael ar gyfer busnesau llai yn y DU a’u hamrywiaeth, gan ddarparu cyllid ar gyfer cwmnïau na fyddai’n derbyn buddsoddiad fel arall o bosibl. Mae’r cronfeydd cynnyrch y mae IFW yn eu cynorthwyo yn darparu cyllid â ffocws masnachol ar gyfer busnesau ar draws Cymru.

Gall cronfeydd cynnyrch IFW fuddsoddi ar eu pennau eu hunain neu ochr yn ochr ag arianwyr eraill, ac yn wir, anogir rheolwyr cronfeydd IFW i drosoli cyfalaf preifat ychwanegol hefyd.

Bydd gan IFW ddull cynhwysol o weithredu, ond bydd yna rai meini prawf cymhwyster ar gyfer cyllid IFW. Bydd rheolwyr y cronfeydd yn gallu cynghori ar addasrwydd.

The Investment Fund for Wales (IFW) will deliver a £130m commitment of new funding through investment strategies that best meet the needs of the businesses in Wales. IFW is designed to drive sustainable economic growth by supporting innovation and creating local opportunity for new and growing businesses across Wales. IFW will increase the supply and diversity of early-stage finance for smaller businesses in Wales, providing funds to firms that might otherwise not receive investment and help to break down barriers in access to finance.

IFW does not invest directly in businesses. It invests through product funds which are managed by IFW’s appointed fund managers. The Fund will offer three commercial finance options with Smaller Loans from £25k to £100k, Debt Finance from £100k to £2m and Equity Finance up to £5 million.

IFW will offer three commercial finance options with Smaller Loans from £25k to £100k, Debt Finance from £100k to £2m and Equity Finance up to £5 million.

Enquiries and applications are made direct to IFW’s selected fund managers, full details of which can be viewed here. IFW cannot provide financial or business advice to businesses seeking funding and businesses may wish to engage their own accountant or business adviser if application assistance is required.

IFW covers the whole of Wales, including rural, coastal and urban areas. Investments can be made in businesses that are headquartered in Wales or have a significant operating presence there.

IFW has been designed to help address market gaps by increasing the supply and diversity of early-stage finance for UK smaller businesses, providing funds to firms that might otherwise not receive investment. The product funds that IFW supports provide commercially focussed funding to businesses across Wales.

IFW’s product funds can invest alone or alongside other funders, and indeed IFW fund managers are encouraged to leverage-in additional private capital.

IFW will have an inclusive approach, but some eligibility criteria do apply to IFW funding and fund managers will be able to advise on suitability.

The Investment Fund for Northern Ireland (IFNI) will deliver a £70m commitment of new funding through investment strategies that best meet the needs of the businesses in Northern Ireland. IFNI is designed to drive sustainable economic growth by supporting innovation and creating local opportunity for new and growing businesses across Northern Ireland. IFNI will increase the supply and diversity of early-stage finance for smaller businesses in Northern Ireland, providing funds to firms that might otherwise not receive investment and help to break down barriers in access to finance.

IFNI does not invest directly in businesses. It invests through product funds which are managed by IFNI’s appointed fund managers. The Fund will offer two commercial finance options with Debt Finance from £25k to £2m and Equity Finance up to £5 million.

IFNI will offer two commercial finance options with Debt Finance from £25k to £2m and Equity Finance up to £5 million.

Enquiries and applications are made direct to IFNI’s selected fund managers, full details of which can be viewed here. IFNI cannot provide financial or business advice to businesses seeking funding and businesses may wish to engage their own accountant or business adviser if application assistance is required.

IFNI covers the whole of Northern Ireland, including rural, coastal and urban areas. Investments can be made in businesses that are headquartered in Northern Ireland or have a significant operating presence there.

IFNI has been designed to help address market failures by increasing the supply and diversity of early-stage finance for UK smaller businesses, providing funds to firms that might otherwise not receive investment. The product funds that IFNI supports provide commercially focussed funding to businesses across Northern Ireland. IFNI’s product funds can invest alone or alongside other funders, and indeed IFNI fund managers are encouraged to leverage-in additional private capital.

IFNI’s product funds can invest alone or alongside other sources of debt or equity capital where appropriate.

IFNI will have an inclusive approach, but some eligibility criteria do apply to IFNI funding and fund managers will be able to advise on suitability.

The Investment Fund for Scotland (IFS) will deliver a £150m commitment of new funding through investment strategies that best meet the needs of the businesses in Scotland. IFS is designed to drive sustainable economic growth by supporting innovation and creating local opportunity for new and growing businesses across Scotland. IFS will increase the supply and diversity of early-stage finance for smaller businesses in Scotland, providing funds to firms that might otherwise not receive investment and help to break down barriers in access to finance.

IFS does not invest directly in businesses. It invests through product funds which are managed by IFS’s appointed fund managers. The Fund will offer three commercial finance options with Smaller Loans from £25k to £100k, Debt Finance from £100k to £2m and Equity Finance up to £5 million.

IFS will offer three commercial finance options with Smaller Loans from £25k to £100k, Debt Finance from £100k to £2m and Equity Finance up to £5 million.

Enquiries and applications are made direct to IFS’s selected fund managers, full details of which can be viewed here . IFS cannot provide financial or business advice to businesses seeking funding and businesses may wish to engage their own accountant or business adviser if application assistance is required.

IFS covers the whole of Scotland, including rural, coastal and urban areas. Investments can be made in businesses that are headquartered in Scotland or have a significant operating presence there.

IFS has been designed to help address market gaps by increasing the supply and diversity of early-stage finance for UK smaller businesses, providing funds to firms that might otherwise not receive investment. The product funds that IFS supports provide commercially focussed funding to businesses across Scotland. IFS’s product funds can invest alone or alongside other funders, and indeed IFS fund managers are encouraged to leverage-in additional private capital.

IFS’s product funds can invest alone or alongside other sources of debt or equity capital where appropriate.

IFS will have an inclusive approach, but some eligibility criteria do apply to IFS funding and fund managers will be able to advise on suitability.

The South West Investment Fund (SWIF) will deliver a £200m commitment of new funding through investment strategies that best meet the needs of the businesses in the South West of England (the “South West”). SWIF is designed to drive sustainable economic growth by supporting innovation and creating local opportunity for new and growing businesses across the South West. SWIF will increase the supply and diversity of early-stage finance for South West smaller businesses, providing funds to firms that might otherwise not receive investment and help to break down barriers in access to finance.

SWIF does not invest directly in businesses. It invests through product funds which are managed by SWIF’s appointed Fund Managers. The Fund will offer three commercial finance options with Smaller Loans from £25k to £100k, Debt Finance from £100k to £2m and Equity Finance up to £5 million.

SWIF will offer three commercial finance options with Smaller Loans from £25k to £100k, Debt Finance from £100k to £2m and Equity Finance up to £5 million.

Enquiries and applications are made direct to SWIF’s selected Fund Managers, full details of which can be viewed here. SWIF cannot provide financial or business advice to businesses seeking funding and businesses may wish to engage their own accountant or business adviser if application assistance is required.

SWIF covers the entire South West region, including Bristol, Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly, Devon, Dorset, Gloucestershire, Somerset and Wiltshire. Investments can be made in businesses that are headquartered in the South West or have a significant operating presence there.

SWIF has been designed to help address market failures by increasing the supply and diversity of early-stage finance for UK smaller businesses, providing funds to firms that might otherwise not receive investment. The product funds that SWIF supports provide commercially focussed funding to businesses across the South West. SWIF’s product funds can invest alone or alongside other funders, and indeed SWIF fund managers are encouraged to leverage-in additional private capital.

SWIF’s product funds can invest alone or alongside other sources of debt or equity capital where appropriate.

SWIF will have an inclusive approach, but some eligibility criteria do apply to SWIF funding and Fund Managers will be able to advise on suitability.