Preston landscaping business Green Scenery secures £100k NPIF II funding boost

A Preston grounds maintenance and landscaping business, has secured £100k in funding from NPIF II – River Capital & GC Business Finance Smaller Loans, which is managed by River Capital & GC Business Finance as part of the Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund II.

Green Scenery was founded in 2011 by managing director Simon Astbury and has grown from a sole trader operation into a thriving business employing 18 staff across a diverse range of services - including grounds maintenance, turfing, sports line marking, and tree surgery.

Operating across a wide footprint from Morecambe and the Fylde Coast to Yorkshire Borders and Manchester, the company serves more than 45 schools and colleges, supermarket chains, social housing providers, hotels, and commercial property managers.

The £100k investment will be used to fund staff training, construct a mezzanine floor within the company’s Preston base, and invest in specialist arboriculture equipment and personnel including a dedicated chipper machine and additional qualified arborists.

Over the full term of the loan, this investment is expected to create eight new apprenticeship positions, building on Green Scenery’s track record as a committed employer and trainer of local talent.

Green Scenery’s growth has been underpinned by a strong reputation for quality and reliability, long-standing customer relationships, and a commitment to staff development.

The business holds multiple industry accreditations, including Constructionline Gold, CHAS and SSIP health and safety certifications, and an Upper Tier Waste Carriers’ Environmental Licence.

With low staff turnover and a significant proportion of the team having been with the business for over a decade, Green Scenery is well positioned to expand into new service areas and geographies.

Simon Astbury, managing director, Green Scenery, said: “We’ve worked hard over the past 15 years to build a business we’re genuinely proud of, and this investment gives us the platform to take things to the next level.

"Arboriculture is an exciting new direction for us, and the support from River Capital means we can commit to growing the team, developing our people, and delivering a broader range of services to our clients. We’re looking forward to the journey ahead.”

Jonathan Nelson, investment manager, River Capital said: “Simon has built an impressive business from the ground up, quite literally.

"What struck us most was the clarity of his vision, the quality of his team, and the discipline with which he manages the business.

"Green Scenery is exactly the type of established, growth-oriented SME that NPIF II is designed to support, and we’re delighted to be backing the next chapter of their story.”

Sue Barnard, senior investment manager at the British Business Bank, said: “It’s fantastic to see NPIF II supporting an established business like Green Scenery Ltd as it embarks on the next stage of its growth journey.

"By providing access to finance, the fund is helping businesses across Lancashire invest in their people, expand their services and drive sustainable growth in the local economy.”

The £660m Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund II (NPIFII) covers the entire North of England and provides loans from £25k to £2m and equity investment up to £5m to help a range of small and medium sized businesses to start up, scale up or stay ahead.

The purpose of the Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund II is to drive sustainable economic growth by supporting innovation and creating local opportunity for new and growing businesses across the North of England.

The Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund II will increase the supply and diversity of early-stage finance for the North’s smaller businesses, providing funds to firms that might otherwise not receive investment and help to break down barriers in access to finance.

The investment was introduced to River Capital by Gill Nolan of Growth Lancashire, reflecting the strength of the region’s business support ecosystem in connecting ambitious SMEs with the right funding partners.