MEMBERS NEWS
25 years of MSIF and the Liverpool City Region
Maray opened their new Royal Albert Dock premises earlier this year thanks to a £120k Investment from MSIF
Founded in 1994, MSIF are based in the heart of Liverpool City Centre; providing funding and support to SMEs across the wider region, North West and North Wales. With over £185 million invested to date, in excess of 2,225 businesses, MSIF is set to continue its path to becoming the ‘go-to’ funding provider for the LCR. Over their 25 years of service, MSIF has worked with numerous entrepreneurs in Start Ups, growing, and established companies to help achieve their aspirations and ambitions. Due to their wealth of experience, connectivity across the region, and access to multiple funds, [including their own and funding from European and British Business Bank derivatives], MSIF boast a simplified and tailored-level of service for every business they have worked with by taking the complexity out of funding options. As they have grown in recent years, MSIF have expanded their remit of service by extending their operational channels of support to the Liverpool City Region. In 2017, MSIF launched the Finance Hub to act as a holistic approach to the ‘access to
22
finance’ movement. Through the hub, MSIF have been able to support, coach and source funding for any type of business which is looking to start and to grow. As it approaches two and a half years in operation, the Finance Hub has supported nearly 1,500 businesses and individuals, to best prepare themselves for both starting capital, and/or additional funding. Alongside the Finance Hub and the main body of business, MSIF also proudly lead the LCR Angel Network. Founded in March 2018, the LCR Angel Network was brought to fruition by partners Brabners, Grant Thornton’s – Grow with G, and MSIF. The launch of the network was delivered to help create growth and drive opportunity by bringing together Angel Investors and aspiring businesses alike. MSIF recognised the lack of co-ordinated Angel events across the city region and sought to further support the local economy by introducing additional investment opportunities to the city region. The network has now held 6 events, resulting in multiple rounds of funding into several businesses. To say MSIF has had a positive impact on the local economy is an understatement to their achievements. Initially launched as a service to the city-region to inject much-needed funds into local businesses, MSIF has gone above and beyond to support and deliver to the SMEs of the LCR; working with a diverse portfolio of companies and multiple key partners across the professional services sector.
After a continuous working relationship with Studiowide Ltd, MSIF were able to further support the business for the development of their second operational arm, The Immersive Learning Studio.
As MSIF gear up to celebrate 25 years of service to the Liverpool City Region, we reflect on some Unity of their biggest achievements to date, what they Togetherness Equal are currently working towards and what the future Multiply has Proliferate in store for MSIF and its team. Connect
Going forward, MSIF looks to grow, expand and achieve by continuing to support the businesses of the region and the wider North West. MSIF will continue adding value to SMEs; from early-stage support from the Finance Hub, to deal-flow and extensive postinvestment support delivered by the experienced MSIF team – differentiating themselves from the competition with their extensive support, staying with businesses ‘all the way’. Paul Cherpeau, CEO of Liverpool Chamber, commented on MSIF’s milestone; “MSIF was established to provide essential investment funding to businesses in Merseyside at a time when the local economy was experiencing difficulties. The Chamber was one of the original guarantors and continues to provide support through an enduring relationship, and shared vision, to ensure our business community has access to the necessary financial support required to grow our economy. Now, twenty-five years after its formation, we can reflect proudly on MSIF’s achievements and its readiness for the future.” John O’Brien, Chairman of MSIF stated; “This is a very exciting time for MSIF. What we have achieved over twentyfive years, with the businesses we have supported, the
relationships we have built and the impact we have had on the local economy, is something we are very proud of. We have a unique and personalised approach to our investees; as we look to the next twenty-five, we envision MSIF going from strength-to-strength; further delivering much needed support to the SME businesses of the Liverpool City Region.” If you are growing, beginning or acquiring your own business, and would like to work with MSIF, visit www.msif.co.uk or contact 0151 236 4040
Paul Humphray of MSIF and Mike Smith, MD of Open Media after securing £400k to expand their services.
‘Going forward, MSIF looks to grow, expand and achieve by continuing to support the businesses of the region and the wider North West’.