New investment director will bolster UCLan's SME services

The University of Central Lancashire (UCLan) is to improve its latest business support initiative for Lancashire SMEs with the appointment of Robert Sheffrin.

Robert has joined as investment director, a role which will see him build the university’s Investment Readiness programme.

Led by experienced venture capital investors, the programme provides businesses with investors’ insight into how to strengthen their potential for receiving equity investment.

Part funded by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), completion of the scheme will make it easier for businesses to access the most appropriate equity funding, while also making it easier for investors to back good opportunities.

With 25 years’ venture capital investment experience in the UK and abroad, Robert is a former director of the British Business Angels Association and past president of the Manchester Society of Chartered Accountants.

Previous roles include venture capital fund manager for Enterprise Ventures, before he went on to establish international venture capital consultancy VCAS, whose clients included the World Bank Group and International Finance Corporation (IFC).

Robert said: “An investor led investment readiness programme has been the missing link in supporting deal flow to equity investors. With my investment experience and knowledge of international investment readiness programmes, I look forward to developing quality businesses for introduction to investors nationally.”

Pete Leather, head of IP and commercialisation and Investment Readiness programme director at UCLan, said: “We are delighted that Robert has joined the Investment Readiness team to deliver this exciting and novel approach to investment readiness support. “Robert has a wealth of experience and knowledge from the equity investment market, and his insight into how businesses can best prepare to increase their chances of securing equity investment and his network of contacts in the sector will form a core component as we support ambitious businesses across Lancashire.”