LCR Finance Hub Sets Record Pace as Total Impact Surpasses £29 Million
The LCR Finance Hub, which specialises in assisting businesses to become investment ready and matching them with suitable funding options, has seen consistent year-on-year growth in both enquiries and successful funding facilitation. In the first nine months of the current financial year the LCR Finance Hub has received a record number of enquiries totalling 480, marking the strongest performance since being established in 2017. In the same period 33 drawdowns were completed totalling £2.43 million of funding.
This milestone pushes the LCR Finance Hub’s total impact to 5,000 business enquiries and more than £29.25 million in funding, secured across 349 successful deals. The ongoing success of the MSIF service that is jointly funded by MSIF and the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority, proves it continues to play a vital role in the region’s business support infrastructure.
George Wright, LCR Finance Hub Manager Lead said:
“Reaching 480 enquiries represents our strongest year yet, and it demonstrates the growing appetite among Liverpool City Region businesses for expert financial guidance,”
“Surpassing 5,000 total enquiries and £29 million in funding facilitated since 2017 is a proud milestone, but what matters most is the real impact—hundreds of local businesses that have been able to start, grow, and thrive thanks to securing the right financial support.”
The organisation works with businesses at all stages, from startups seeking early-stage funding to established companies looking for growth capital or specialised financing solutions. Its expertise spans grant funding, debt finance, equity investment, and alternative funding sources.
Lynsey Barnes, LCR Finance Hub Investment Manager.
“As our economic landscape evolves, accessing the right financial support continues to be a key focus for ambitious businesses ready to grow,”
“Our commitment to simplifying the funding ecosystem and preparing businesses to effectively engage with investors has created more opportunities than ever for sustainable growth and success.”
MSIF Chair Neil Asbridge commented on the performance, saying:
“The LCR Finance Hub’s record-breaking performance in the current financial year year to end March 2026, reinforces MSIF’s decision to invest in a vital component of the LCR’s business support infrastructure.
Achieving 480 enquiries in just nine months while surpassing £29 million in total funding facilitated demonstrates the Hub’s growing importance to ambitious businesses across Liverpool City Region. MSIF is proud to continue to provide support to help the Hub build on this momentum.”
Janice Mears, head of business growth at the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority welcomed the news and said:
“This is fantastic news from the LCR Finance Hub. Our ambition has always been to ensure every small and medium‑sized business in the City Region can access the financial guidance and support they need to grow and create jobs. Handling more than 5,000 enquiries and helping businesses secure over £29 million in funding since 2017 is a testament to the Finance Hub team’s impact.
“Small businesses are vital to our City Region’s long‑term prosperity. By supporting the LCR Finance Hub, we’re helping more SMEs access the advice and finance they need to thrive- creating quality local jobs and driving our economy forward.”
Janice added: “As the business support service for the LCRCA, Growth Platform will continue to work closely with the Finance Hub to ensure businesses across our region get the support they need.”
ENDS
Recently filed accounts for Merseyside Special Investment Fund Limited (MSIF) display a group profit of £6 million for the financial year ended March 31, 2024.
Now in its 30th year of supporting Liverpool City Region businesses, the growth in profit reflects the strong performance of MSIF’s investment activities across its debt portfolios and the increased carrying values of its venture and equity holdings, several of which have been realised since the year end.
MSIF’s investments are managed by its Liverpool based subsidiary company River Capital, who delivered over £6million in funding support to 27 businesses during the year to March 31, 2024, with 20 of these based in the Liverpool City Region.
New investment activity across the group remained robust. In addition to its investment in the North West Private Equity Fund managed by River Capital, which provides investments up to £2 million for businesses across the North West, MSIF corner-stoned investment in River Capital’s AI Fund and invested £8m into the North West Business Growth Loan fund, securing a further £10 million co-investment from TDC as a result
In addition, MSIF continues to provide crucial support to ambitious local businesses and has expanded its provision and funding for two key pillars of the ecosystem, enabling them to remain free of charge to the end user.
Alongside the Growth Platform, MSIF has increased its investment in its LCR Finance Hub offering, which provided financial planning and investment readiness assistance to over 650 businesses in the year and helped 45 companies secure funding of over £3.5 million. This is in addition to its investment to support the expansion of its angel network offering following the rebranding of the LCR Angel Network to Gateway Angels. The network has grown to include over 40 active investors, and successfully facilitated funding rounds for three businesses during the financial year.
Neil Ashbridge, Chairman of MSIF commented on the group’s growth:
“Despite challenging economic conditions in the year to 31 March 2024, including inflationary pressures and higher borrowing costs, the MSIF Group continued to see the positive effects of its long-term growth strategy. Going forward MSIF’s focus will remain on promoting economic growth in the Liverpool City Region by providing essential financial support and advice to SME businesses through our group of businesses.
There continues to be a strong and diverse business base in the LCR, and we are delighted that through our fund manager, River Capital, MSIF funds continue to make a difference and support ambitious SMEs to deliver their growth plans. In turn, this enables MSIF to support initiatives such as the LCR Finance Hub and Gateway Angels for the next generation of entrepreneurs.
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