Government-backed British Business Bank to offer support to more than 160 firms based at Sci-Tech Daresbury innovation campus. Tony McDonough reports

Firms based at Sci-Tech Daresbury will be able to access the support and expertise of the British Business Bank (BBB) in a new agreement.

Owned by the UK Government, the BBB is an economic bank specialised in helping businesses in the UK access financial support. It already works in Liverpool city region with organisations such as SME funder River Capital, based in Liverpool city centre.

Now it will extend its reach in the region by joining the Sci-Tech Daresbury Gold Partner programme. Together, they provide business support, expertise, and specialist services to the campus community.

Sci-Tech Daresbury is Liverpool city region’s main science and innovation campus and is home to more than 160 start-ups, scale-ups, and global companies.

BBB joins 10 other companies who offer specialist advice and services in areas such as intellectual property, scientific research, AI, technology commercialisation, laboratory and engineering infrastructure, insurance, finance, taxation, legal, and marketing expertise.

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Delyth Edwards, senior manager for the North West at the BBB, said: “Access to the right finance at the right time can be transformational for innovative companies. By joining the Gold Partner programme at Sci-Tech Daresbury, we can work more closely with the pioneering businesses on campus.

“We can help them get access to the right advice and guidance on their funding needs, and secure this at the right time  to scale, create high-value jobs, and compete on the global stage.”

The existing Gold Partners are Asset Lifecycle Solutions, Bouygues Energies & Services, David Antrobus Marketing, Grant Thornton, IBM, Konsileo, Marks and Clerk, RTC North, Slater Heelis and University of Liverpool.

John Leake, business growth director at Sci-Tech Daresbury, added: “Welcoming the British Business Bank as a Gold Partner marks another step forward in strengthening the support network for our campus companies.

“Its track record in unlocking growth finance and backing ambitious entrepreneurs will help our businesses move faster, think bigger, and compete with confidence in global markets.”