Funding and investment fromThe Social Investment Business

Niall Sweby

Business Development Manager

● we are the fastest growing social investor in the country

● we help social enterprises that need investment that a bank won’t provide or a grant funder can’t

● we recognise we invest in people and pride ourselves on an approach that works

About The Social Investment Business

Health and Social Care

● loans from £50,000 to £10 million

● focus on Start ups, innovation, improving NHS Services and reaching underserved communities

● potential for grant support alongside loans

● dedicated Business Support

What we offer - Investments

Social enterprises for specific neighbourhoods

● loans between £50,000 and £2 million

● intensive business support in developing assets

● dedicated grants for feasibility studies

● potential for grant support alongside loans

What we offer - Investments

● Dedicated business support from a team with experience in successfully leading social enterprises to sustainability, developing new services and winning public sector contracts

● Services can range from support in business planning and strategy to financial management, contract negotiation, HR issues, commissioning, market analysis and accounting

What we offer – Business Support

● each investment package is bespoke to the organisation’s financial status and ability to take on debt

● funds are primarily directed towards loan financing – we look to offer loan first and grant second

● grant funding is only used to improve viability of loan investments

Loans versus grants

● exception is Start ups – by definition, they are offered a larger percentage of grantand/or more flexible loan terms

● 100% grant packages which you applied for are unlikely to be repeated in the future

Loans v grants continued...

We require that you:

● have the ability to repay the loan

● can’t attain finance from a commercial bank

● won’t breach State Aid rules

● are investment ready

What do we need from you?

Talk to me today, or....

● call 0191 261 5200 to talk to a member of the team

● send a brief (2 sides A4 max) proposal to enquiries@thesocialinvestmentbusiness.org

● visit www.thesocialinvestmentbusiness.org

To discuss your ideas…

Financing the Start-up & Growth of your Social Firm or Social Enterprise Business

Tracy Axten - Triodos Bank

Niall Sweby - The Social Investment Business

Brian Whittaker - Lankelly Chase Foundation

Nigel Kershaw OBE - Big Issue Invest

The same funding options are available to social enterprises as traditional

businesses, BUT may not be from the same provider ...

What has your experience been??

Requirements

Sound Business Plan - proposition sustainable & ability to repay debt

Management Team - Financial awareness, management, control

Systems - capture required information, trends, cash flow etc

Marketing - who are your customers, your niche?

Preparation before approaching a lender/funder

• How much do we need? Is it enough?• how will we repay, over how long? Any implications?• what is the Business Plan for next 3-5yrs?• are our accounts up to date? Do I understand them?• does my Board support, have experience in managing finance?• do we have the skills to manage growth/activities, reporting etc?• what would happen if we didn’t succeed in acquiring finance?

Support Available...

Organisations: Social Firms UK, Social Enterprise Hubs, Red Ochre, Social Enterprise Business Support programme, Business Link. Social Investment Organisations

Tools: NCVO - Funding Central, Business Link London, SEC, Social Enterprise Magazine, those above.

Finance Options...

Grants - free money? No requirement to repay

Loans - long term, require repayment, security, cost

Over drafts - short term, require repayment, track record, cost

Equity - repaid with premium, involvement & ownership of company taken

Mixture of all above...

The Social Investment Business

Niall Sweby

Lankelly Chase Foundation

Brian Whittaker

Big Issue Invest                

Nigel Kershaw OBE

Triodos Bank NV (incorporated under the laws of the Netherlands with limited liability, registered in England and Wales BR3012).

Authorised by the Dutch Central Bank (DNB) and regulated by the Financial Services Authority (FSA) for the conduct of UK business.

Registered office: Brunel House, 11 The Promenade, Bristol BS8 3NN

•Tracy Axten, Triodos Bank. 07775 662968 tracy.axten@triodos.co.uk•Niall Sweby, Social Investment Business. 07872 506342 niall.sweby@socialinvestmentbusiness.org•Brian Whittaker, LankellyChase Foundation. 01235 820044•Nigel Kershaw OBE, Big Issue Invest. 02075263431