Small Business Loans Programme
Birmingham City Council launched a Business Loan Fund in January 2010; a groundbreaking initiative offering a £10 million package of loans to small and medium businesses (SMEs) based in Birmingham. The loan fund supports a diverse range of solid profitable Birmingham companies which have previously been unable to access funding.
In June 2011, the Council launched a £10m Equity Fund, which is open to local companies that can demonstrate a two-year trading track record.
Finance Birmingham acts as agent for the Council to oversee the funds.
For further information, please contact Finance Birmingham on 0121 233 4903, or alternatively you can apply online at: www.financebirmingham.com
Creative Advantage Fund is a Birmingham-based venture capital fund for the creative industries in the West Midlands.
Originally established in 2000 by Birmingham City Council and West Midlands Arts (now part of the Arts Council), with support from AWM, ERDF and the private sector our portfolio has included companies in television, film, software, theatre, toy design and jewellery.
A realisation of investments has generated sufficient funds to enable a re-launch, and backed by BCC we are currently seeking to make investments of between £75,000 and £150,000 in SMEs within the creative industries sector, based on individual creativity and the exploitation of intellectual property.
An investee company will be limited by shares, have their origin in creativity, have been trading for at least a year and have sound financial management arrangements.
We have a vested interest in supporting investee companies we assist with a view to capital growth of the business and eventually an exit.
For further information or to clarify if your company would be eligible for investment, please contact CAF by e-mail at enquiries@creativeadvantagefund.co.uk or by telephone on: 07969 141974 or 01543 451881, or go to: www.creativeadvantagefund.co.uk
ART (Aston Reinvestment Trust) is an independent Community Development Finance Institution which provides loans of between £10,000 and £50,000 to:
- entrepreneurs looking to create sustainable new businesses; and
- existing businesses, including social enterprises, in Birmingham.
Potential applicant businesses should be seeking to commence trading or improve their competitiveness and show they have viable business plans but cannot secure all the finance they need from mainstream sources.
Loans will be targeted towards the most disadvantaged areas of Birmingham, but will not be exclusive to those specific areas.
For further information, please contact ART on 0121 359 2444 or by e-mail on art@reinvest.co.uk. Further information about the programme is available on the Aston Reinvestment Trust Website.