The new LCR Seed Fund has been launched to support high-growth, early-stage businesses across the Liverpool City Region, with a focus on advanced manufacturing, digital and creative industries, and health and life sciences.
Councillor Paula Basnett, leader of Wirral Council, said: “I would urge Wirral businesses looking to scale up their operations to see if they can benefit from this new seed fund set up by the Liverpool City Region.
“Wirral is home to so many incredibly talented entrepreneurs but getting funding to expand businesses, especially at an early stage in their development, can be difficult.
“This new funding source could be the crucial difference for some smaller companies seeking to take that next step.”
The fund offers equity investment of between £250,000 and £2 million to businesses with innovative products or services, a clear route to market, and strong scale-up potential.
It is designed to improve the success rate of scaling businesses, attract inward investment, and strengthen the wider business support ecosystem across the region.
Mayor of the Liverpool City Region, Steve Rotheram, announced the fund at the recent LCR Talking Business Conference.
Mr Rotheram said: “Small businesses are the bedrock of our economy – not just here in the Liverpool City Region, but across the country.
“They make up 99 per cent of all companies in our area and are the engine of innovation, opportunity and job creation.
“But I hear all too often from local entrepreneurs that, when it comes to scaling up, the support just isn’t there – especially outside London.”
The fund is part of the mayor’s wider strategy to drive business growth and create high-quality jobs.
It complements other regional investment funds and business support services, including the Wirral Council Business Support Service delivered through Wirral Chamber of Commerce.
Rupert Wingate-Saul, investment director at AXM Venture Capital, which manages the fund, said: “We are delighted to have been awarded the mandate to manage the LCR Seed Fund and build on our success in investing in the Liverpool City Region.”
