Boost appoints two new advisers to Access to Finance team

Boost, Lancashire’s Business Growth Hub, has recruited a pair of experienced finance advisers to its Access to Finance team.

Firoza Ismail takes up the role alongside her work at finance brokerage Roza Capital 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.

Firoza said: "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 will be supporting the team as an equity specialist. He 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.

He said: “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.”

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.

The two new 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 coun 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.”

Mark Gibbons, lead advisor at Access to Finance, added: “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.”

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.