A strategic investment is supporting the next stage of growth for luxury holiday home and wedding venue, Blackton Grange. The funding comes from NPIF II – NEL Smaller Loans, which is managed by NEL Fund Managers as part of the Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund II (NPIF II).
Born from a strong passion for property, interiors and finding the perfect place to entertain and celebrate with loved ones, twins Stella Laird and Jodi McSherry made their dream a reality by creating a modern and intimate wedding venue, tucked away in 11 acres of stunning countryside in the heart of the North Pennines.
The investment will support a new partnership between Blackton Grange and specialist marketing agency Venue Spark, to resource a dedicated online marketing team to promote the newly restored Wedding Barn in the heart of the estate and grow the Blackton Grange brand.
Stella and Jodi expressed excitement about their ongoing partnership with NEL Fund Managers: “Partnering with NEL has been a brilliant experience for us at Blackton Grange Estates and a very smooth process working with all levels of the management team, we are excited for the future working with NEL and how they can help accelerate our growth plans, not just with this project, but over the coming years as we continue to build and grow our brand and business”
Susan Snowdon, Investment Executive at NEL Fund Managers led this investment and commented: “Stella and the team were fantastic to work with and it’s so impressive to see what they have done with the space at Blackton Grange. I look forward to continuing to work with them and wish them both the best of luck for their next stage of business growth”
Sarah Newbould, Senior Investment Manager at the British Business Bank said: “Backing ambitious businesses across the North is central to driving sustainable regional growth. Through NPIF II, we’re committed to improving access to finance so that companies with strong potential can scale and create local opportunity. Blackton Grange reflects this ambition, building a distinctive luxury venue in the North Pennines and investing in its brand to support the next phase of growth.”
Operated by British Business Bank, the £660m Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund II covers the entire North and provides loans from £25k to £2m and this investment is an excellent example of NEL Fund Managers investing in and supporting new and growing businesses with funding gaps across the full mandate of the funds.
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. The Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund II will increase the supply and diversity of early-stage finance for Northern smaller businesses, providing funds to firms that might otherwise not receive investment and help to break down barriers in access to finance.
For more information about NEL, please visit www.nel.co.uk or contact the investment team on 0345 369 7007.