A new funding expo will make £2.bn in investment
available to Yorkshire businesses. United Leeds Endeavours investigates the
opportunity.
Held at the Royal Armouries in Leeds on 21st
September 2012 the first ever investor pitch expo is an incredible opportunity
for Leeds-based manufacturing, technology and engineering businesses to gain
funds. United Leeds Endeavours understands that the event is targeted at
businesses which already have an annual turnover of £5m or over.
This event is the first of its kind in the north
of England and United Leeds Endeavours feels that it will be a huge success as
50 venture and development capital firms and 100 business angel investors are
already committed to the event. They bring with them around £2bn of investment
which the direct sales and marketing firm feels will make a huge difference in
the region.
The expo works by having 50 distribution, engineering and
technology firms exhibiting at the event and each will seek a minimum £500,000
investment. A spokesperson for United Leeds Endeavours said, "We're
talking serious investment here, we've continually championed small businesses
in this area but to really kick start the economy, the medium sized businesses
need to have their opportunity. They're already established, working well and
they have the potential to expand and help increase the manufacturing output
that has really failed in the UK through the economic downturn."
Leeds-based entrepreneur Martin Penny, who founded
hair care brand ghd is backing the event. He said, "I think this is a great
opportunity for businesses who are finding it increasingly difficult to secure
traditional bank funding to explore other avenues of investment." He
continued, "There are many solid well performing businesses whose growth is
being hampered by the UK banks' current intransigent attitude towards lending.
Not only are the individual businesses suffering but this is having a knock on
effect on the economy as a whole."
The spokesperson for United Leeds Endeavours
concluded, "It's a clever but simple idea, put a whole bunch of companies
looking for investment into a room with a whole bunch of investors looking for
a great opportunity. We're delighted that this kind of thing is finally
happening outside of London. We're confident it's going to be a huge boost for
Yorkshire."
United Leeds Endeavours is a direct marketing
company specialising in outsourced sales for the entertainment and
communications industries.
