Release: Immediate INVESTMENT EVENT SET TO BOOST BUSINESS IN SUFFOLK 13 February 2003: The latest event from Suffolk Investors Forum (SIF) is set to attract business people from across the county, all keen to hear how the exciting new venture can help boost their business. Suffolk Investors Forum aims to encourage investment in the region’s enterprises and a number of companies are already reaping the benefits. It draws together the resources of the Suffolk Development Agency (SDA), East of England Development Agency (EEDA), Institute of Directors (IoD), Business Link for Suffolk, Suffolk’s Chamber of Commerce and more than 20 accountants, solicitors, banks and financial advisors Working in partnership with Beer & Partners Ltd, the UK’s largest private equity group, SIF aims to promote investment opportunities within Suffolk companies. Following the highly successful launch event in November last year, SIF will be holding a further information event on March 11th 2004 at CableNet Training Services, Suffolk Business Park, Bury St Edmunds at 5.00pm. Keith Ferguson, partner at accountants and business advisors PKF East Anglia, explains: “The aim of the Forum is to develop a business network which enables local companies to meet with Business Angels and attend events and educational sessions. But it is about more than money. It is about providing access to the wealth of the business expertise in the region so that firms can turn ideas into commercial reality.” If you are interested in attending the event or would like to find more about how Suffolk Investors Forum can benefit your business please call Graham Shorter at Grant Thornton on 01284 701271, Peter Martin of Beer & Partners on 07970 091299 or David Barnes at Ashton Graham on 01284 762331 for further details. Case study One firm which has used private investment to boost business is Newmarket-based PupilRecords Ltd, the company behind In-form, a complete administration and communication software system for schools. The concept originated from an idea by schools photographer Karen Miller to provide a system which would enable teachers to record and organise their work more effectively, pupils to understand the curriculum and parents to keep track of their child’s activities at school. The service is fully hosted which means that schools do not need to invest in expensive expertise or computer hardware to run In-form. In August 2001, Karen Miller joined forces with business partner Kate Gittens and private investor Geoff Turner to form Pupil Records Ltd. Geoff Turner explains: “I recognised that In-form had great market potential and was keen to become involved from the start. As a team we raised further money from various sources including the DTI’s Small Firms Loan Guarantee and outside investment and in April 2003 the product was launched. “In-form has already been sold to a small number of schools and we are talking to many others interested in the package. By working together we have combined our strengths to provide a complete skills set which we have used to take the business forward.” Peter Martin of Beer & Partners Ltd said: “PupilRecords Ltd is an excellent example of what can be achieved through private investment. Suffolk Investors Forum aims to introduce many more businesses to this kind of support and make our county the place to do business.” - Ends - For further information: Please contact Rachel Smith, Mosaic Publicity on 01206 548100.
|
