• Foresight Group has been appointed by the West Yorkshire Combined Authority to manage a new £20 million fund
• Fund will support the growth of Small and Medium Sized Enterprises (“SMEs”) throughout West Yorkshire
• Fund will make a significant contribution to West Yorkshire’s economy by supporting companies’ growth plans and creating high-quality, local jobs

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Leeds, 13 June 2022: Foresight Group (“Foresight”), a leading listed regional private equity and infrastructure investment manager, has been appointed by the West Yorkshire Combined Authority to manage a new £20 million fund to support the growth of SMEs in the region.

Building on Foresight’s strong track record of working with high growth, established smaller companies across the UK, the new dedicated Foresight West Yorkshire SME Investment Fund will typically provide equity and debt investments of up to £2 million in companies with annual revenues of between £1m and £20m, seeking continued growth.

The Fund will invest in high growth, small companies throughout West Yorkshire, supporting economic growth and creating sustainable, high-quality jobs. It will look to invest in businesses from all communities and will also support their Net Zero ambitions.

Foresight is one of the most active investors in small and medium-sized businesses in the UK, providing flexible funding and supporting companies across all sectors and deal stages. Amongst its portfolio, of more than 130 SMEs, are West Yorkshire’s Roxy Ball Room, Reward Finance and Fresh Thinking Capital.

Foresight already has a significant regional presence, with offices in Edinburgh, Cambridge, Manchester, Milton Keynes, Leicester and Nottingham, and will soon open a regional office in Leeds. Foresight will recruit and develop a local team to invest the Fund. The new team will be supported by Foresight’s wider Private Equity team of more than 30 investment professionals.

Matt Smith, Partner at Foresight Group, said: “We are delighted to be launching this new Fund in partnership with the West Yorkshire Combined Authority and look forward to making a significant contribution to the region’s economy. We know there are some outstanding SMEs in West Yorkshire and look forward to working with business communities to provide capital, support and advice.”

Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire, said: “I am very pleased we are launching this Fund to invest in high growth SMEs in West Yorkshire, across all sectors and with a focus on health, green tech, manufacturing and digital.

 

Investing in high growth businesses will speed up the creation of quality jobs for the people of West Yorkshire.

 

As Mayor of West Yorkshire, I am working hard to make our region an even better place to live, learn, work and do business with and investing in our region’s brilliant SMEs is key to achieving this.”

 

 

 

 

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For more information contact:

Chris Barry, Influential: barry@thisisinfluential.com / +44 (0)7733 103 693

Lucy Sherwood, Foresight Group: lsherwood@foresightgroup.eu

 

Notes to Editors

About Foresight Group LLP (“Foresight”):

Foresight Group was founded in 1984 and is a leading listed infrastructure and private equity investment manager. With a long-established focus on ESG and sustainability-led strategies, it aims to provide attractive returns to its institutional and private investors from hard-to-access private markets. Foresight manages over 300 infrastructure assets with a focus on solar and onshore wind assets, bioenergy and waste, as well as renewable energy enabling projects, energy efficiency management solutions, social and core infrastructure projects and sustainable forestry assets. Its private equity team manages eight regionally focused investment funds across the UK and a SME impact fund supporting Irish SMEs. This team reviews close to 2,500 business plans each year and currently supports more than 130 SMEs. Foresight Capital Management manages four strategies across six investment vehicles with an AUM of over £1.6 billion.

Foresight operates from 12 offices across six countries in Europe and Australia with AUM of £8.7 billion as at 31 March 2022. Foresight Group Holdings Limited listed on the Main Market of the London Stock Exchange in February 2021. https://www.fsg-investors.com/

 

West Yorkshire Combined Authority

We work in partnership with local councils and businesses to ensure that everyone in our region benefits from a strong, successful economy and a modern, accessible transport network. By championing the region’s interests nationally and internationally, we secure the investment to deliver better transport and housing, help businesses to grow and create jobs.

 

The Combined Authority helps businesses in our region grow and become more productive and operates the Metro-branded network of bus stations, travel centres and public transport information for West Yorkshire.

 

We want our region to be recognised globally as a strong, successful economy where everyone can build great businesses, careers and lives.

 

For more information visit www.westyorks-ca.gov.uk