Enterprise fund opens second office

The BEF, which operates as a social enterprise, has a new base at Vicarage Chambers, Park Square East, where two new investment managers, John Hall and Hilary Watson, will be based. It is headquartered in Bradford so the Leeds base marks its second office.

Fund director Stephen Waud said: “We’re delighted to welcome John and Hilary to our team and I’m sure they will be great assets to us.

“We’re equally pleased they will be able to work in our great new offices in Leeds. It is a really positive move for us and is an ideal step for us to reach out to more businesses across the county and provide them with the crucial help and assistance they need to grow.

“We facilitated more than 100 loans in 2012 and we want to double that this year and lend £4m to boost businesses with the support they need.”