Funding company puts its money on Lancashire business awards

FW Capital, which manages The North West Fund for Loans Plus, has signed up to be social media sponsor for the Be Inspired Business Awards, the BIBAs.

It joins the likes of global creative agency Saatchi and Saatchi, nuclear giant Westinghouse and Virgin Trains to support the awards, dubbed ‘the one they all want to win’. There are less than three weeks left for businesses in Lancashire to get entries in to the awards’ prize categories ahead of the deadline of Friday, April 10.

Gary Guest, Fund Manager at FW Capital, said: “FW Capital has now backed more than 165 businesses throughout the North West and we’re delighted to be a sponsor of this year’s BIBA awards. They’re well regarded by Lancashire’s business community and help champion the successes of small and large businesses in the county. Winners are enrolled in the BIBAs Academy and we’re looking forward to celebrating their success on BIBAs night in September.”

The BIBAs Academy is a package of workshops, networking opportunities and support run in conjunction with Lancaster University Management School to help stimulate growth among its award winners.

The 16 winners of the awards in 2014 have all enrolled in the Academy and are now reaping the rewards of masterclasses with the likes of Kevin Roberts, the Lancashire-born global chief executive of Saatchi and Saatchi.

The North West Fund for Loans Plus can lend between £50,000 and £750,000 in a single round and can also provide follow-on rounds.

It is part of the ERDF–backed £155 million North West Fund which is aimed at businesses looking to raise funding beyond that which is available from traditional sources.

The BIBAs is now open for applications for its 19 categories which include the Business of the Year, Most Inspiring Business of the Year and the lifetime achievement prize, Lancastrian of the Year.

The awards will be handed out in September in Blackpool.