Merseyside Specialist Investment Fund launched its High Growth Business Investment Programme in 2015 offering  investments of between £75,000 to £1m in grants. Tony McDonough reports

A £5m fund to help businesses looking to expand in or relocate to the Liverpool city region is now fully invested.

Liverpool-based Merseyside Specialist Investment Fund (MSIF) launched its High Growth Business Investment Programme in 2015.

MSIF offered investments of between £75,000 to £1m in grants of up to 20% of total projects costs.

The grants have supported 20 companies in total, with some notable investments including:

• Blends, a manufacturer of specialist food ingredients. The £200,000 grant allowed it to double the size of its base at Knowsley Business Park, leading to 10 new jobs.
• Quinn’s Belfast, which trades as Quinn’s The Printers, was awarded £500,000 of funding to expand from Northern Ireland to the UK. The team opened a brand new printing facility in Speke, creating 30 new jobs with plans to employ more in the coming year.

MSIF was also able to offer alternative funding to those who didn’t qualify for the grant, through their extensive range on funds under management. 

Chief executive Lisa Greenhalgh said: “The £5m of grant funding has supported many businesses with large expansion needs and brought new businesses to Liverpool.

“We’re really happy we were able to commit all of the funds and support the businesses who secured funding.

“We will continue to assist businesses across the Liverpool City Region and the surrounding areas with our existing funding options, and are currently looking to increase the value and offerings of our funds under management with the launch of some new funds later in the summer.”