Introduction
Small-to-medium sized businesses, social enterprises, community interest companies and Third Sector organisations across Cambridgeshire and Peterborough are encouraged to explore two new CPCA initiatives designed to drive growth, reduce carbon emissions, foster innovation, and enhance regional economic and social prosperity.
Business Growth Investment Fund
The CPCA Business Growth Investment Fund is funded by the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority. The fund provides debt and equity finance to fund business growth activity in the Green Tech and Low Carbon sectors. The fund is also focused on businesses in hard-to-reach areas and those less likely to have access to growth finance.
Small-to-medium sized businesses within the region who successfully apply for the programme will be able to access loans between £100,000 and £500,000 over the next three years, with a focus on key sectors such as IT, Life Sciences, Agri-Tech, Advanced Manufacturing, and Green-Tech.
Find out more about the programme and how your organisation can apply, click here.
Social Impact Investment Fund
The Social Impact Investment Fund (SIIF) is a £2.375 million fund dedicated to supporting charities and social enterprises in the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough region. Funded by the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority (CPCA) and managed by Allia, this innovative programme provides capital grants and loans to social and third sector organisations.
What is the Social Impact Investment Fund
The SIIF was created to bridge the gap between what social ventures need and what traditional finance offers. We understand that many impactful organisations struggle to access patient and flexible capital that prioritises their mission to deliver social value over financial returns.
The SIIF is here to change that. By offering grants and social loans, the SIIF provides tailored support that empowers social ventures to achieve both their social and financial objectives, while fostering community development and economic growth.
Funding Options Available
The SIIF offers three key funding instruments:
- Grants: Non-repayable funds of £10,000 – £25,000; Best suited for charities or early-stage social enterprises with high social impact potential.
- Social Loans: Affordable loans of £10,000 – £75,000; Best suited for growing social ventures who want to transition to more commercial forms of capital.
- Revenue Participation Agreements (RPAs): An innovative funding model where capital of £10,000 – £75,000 is provided in exchange for a share of future revenues over a period; Best suited for revenue-generating organisations looking to grow without the pressure of traditional debt.
Grants are well-suited for non-profits or early-stage social ventures, while loans and RPAs are designed to drive growth and instil financial discipline in early to mid-stage companies, positioning them for larger, more traditional forms of capital, such as debt and equity.
For more information on the scheme and how your organisation can show an expression of interest click here.