Capital for Enterprise

Capital for Enterprise Limited (CfEL) was a limited company in the United Kingdom owned by the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS). CfEL was responsible for managing BIS's financial schemes, such as venture capital funds and loan guarantees, aimed at helping small and medium enterprises (SMEs). It invested over £1.8 billion from its formation and alongside private capital provided £6.5 billion in credit for SMEs.[1] It ceased operating independently on 1 October 2013 and became part of the British Business Bank.[2]

History

CfEL commenced actively trading on 1 April 2008 when it took over responsibility for the management of BIS's Enterprise Capital Funds, along with other equity funds and the Small Firms Loan Guarantee.

British Business Bank

In September 2012 the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, Vince Cable, announced that the government would be creating a business bank to aid the growth of SMEs.[3] The intention was for the bank to work with the private sector to increase the supply of credit, as well as provide advice to SMEs. On 1 October 2013 CfEL was brought into BIS, together with BIS SME policy teams and private sector expertise, to create the British Business Bank.

Financial schemes

CfEL managed a number of schemes on behalf of BIS, both current open schemes and legacy schemes that had stopped making new investments.[4]

Current schemes
  • Enterprise Capital Funds. ECFs provide investments of up to £2 million to fast growing businesses. Public money is invested alongside private capital into a number of different funds. There are currently 12 ECFs.
  • UK Innovation Investment Fund. A venture capital fund of funds that invests in technology based businesses where there are significant growth opportunities.
  • Enterprise Finance Guarantee. Offers loan guarantees from the UK Government to lenders offering credit to SMEs.
  • Aspire Fund. A fund supporting women-led businesses in the UK.
  • JEREMIE Funds. Regional based investments funded from the European Regional Development Fund and the European Investment Bank.
  • Business Finance Partnership. Supplies capital through non-bank lending channels.

Legacy schemes

Management

CfEL was managed by an independent Board of Directors appointed by BIS.

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References
  1. "About Us". Capital for Enterprise. Archived from the original on 2013-05-21. Retrieved 2013-05-22.
  2. "Capital for Enterprise Limited". British Business Bank. Archived from the original on 2014-02-21.
  3. "Lib Dem conference: Cable promises £1bn 'business bank'". BBC News.
  4. "Funding Programmes". Capital for Enterprise. Archived from the original on 2013-05-26. Retrieved 2013-05-22.
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