Boost Access to Finance service expands expertise with two new adviser appointments

Firoza Ismail has joined the service as Access to Finance adviser alongside her role at finance brokerage Roza Capital Limited where she is a director, following over 20 years’ experience advising businesses in banking and financial services roles including at TSB, HSBC, Habib Bank, and Al Rayan.

Business adviser and entrepreneur Warren Lunt will be supporting the team as Access to Finance adviser – equity specialist. Warren has founded several businesses throughout his career and has strong experience of growing businesses using equity finance.

Warren also has over 15 years’ experience as a consultant and adviser to companies across the North West including as investment adviser for the Access to Finance team in Greater Manchester in addition to running his own employee benefits company Circular Benefits.

The Access to Finance service offers fully funded, one-to-one support to ambitious Lancashire-based businesses to become investment ready, source and secure growth finance. Warren and Firoza’s appointments mean the service now has a total of six advisers, supporting businesses on a full range of commercial finance options including debt and equity, grant funding and specialist areas such as Islamic finance.

County Councillor Carole Haythornthwaite, lead member for Economic Development and Environment, Lancashire County Council said:

“Figures show that, traditionally, Lancashire businesses access less growth funding than counterparts in other areas of the UK. Taking on external finance allows businesses to grow at a rate they would not be able to do organically, boosting local wealth and employment.

“Improving access to this growth finance is a key goal for Lancashire County Council and Firoza and Warren’s appointments will expand the range of fully-funded expertise Lancashire businesses can access, ensuring they receive the very best possible support at the right time at no cost.”

Access to Finance is managed by Lancashire County Council as part of Boost. Boost is funded by Lancashire County Council, the Department for Business & Trade (DBT), and UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) allocations from ten Lancashire partner local authorities.

Businesses in Boost’s local authority partner districts can access the Access to Finance service: Blackburn with Darwen Council, Burnley Council, Chorley Council, Fylde Council, Hyndburn Borough Council, Pendle Borough Council, Preston City Council, South Ribble Borough Council, West Lancashire Borough Council and Wyre Council.

Access to Finance’s advisers help Lancashire businesses to understand and secure investment in a range of ways including reviewing finance facilities, working with business leaders to improve financial forecasts and plans, advising on the most appropriate type of growth finance and working with investors through the application process.

The service also operates an Investment Academy, delivered by the Access to Finance team alongside private sector experts, which is designed to help businesses understand their options, if external finance is right for them and improve their proposition to potential investors.

Firoza Ismail said:

"Helping businesses to grow has always been my passion. Joining the Access to Finance team gives me the opportunity to use my experience and contacts to provide guidance to Lancashire business owners which will help them over the long-term, supporting both their growth and the wider Lancashire economy.

“The county has a diverse business community with businesses of all sizes operating in a wide range of sectors. They each have their own unique challenges and goals and I’m looking forward to providing them with the right help at the right time.”

Warren Lunt added:

“Understanding and securing equity finance can be daunting for many but over recent years we have seen a real expansion in opportunities for Lancashire businesses, with equity providers increasingly looking to support the county.

“I’m looking forward to working with Lancashire business owners to understand the right option for them, create compelling funding propositions and secure support to achieve their objectives.”

Mark Gibbons, lead advisor at Access to Finance, said:

“Warren and Firoza’s appointment will strengthen the team’s expertise across all areas of commercial finance, particularly in equity and Islamic finance, two areas where we have seen an increase in demand for our advice.

“The Access to Finance service is designed for ambitious businesses who want to grow, invest, create jobs or innovate and trade internationally so please get in touch if you are looking for support to secure finance or simply understand your options.”

To find out more about the Access to Finance service, visit the service’s page on the Boost website or visit Boost’s Business Support Helpdesk on 0800 488 0057.