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FUND BACKS ENTERPRISE CREATING JOBS FOR UNEMPLOYED

Partnership Investment Finance makes loan to Green Skills Ltd

Partnership Investment Finance (PIF) – the £37m investment fund aimed at supporting growing businesses in the region – is supporting a new social enterprise business that is creating jobs for unemployed people in the Bradford area.

Green Skills Ltd is a social enterprise that has been launched to provide landscaping, horticultural, general building and decorating services to schools, housing associations, community groups and other social enterprises.

PIF has made a £15,000 micro loan to provide the business with working capital and help with the purchase of equipment, including a new truck.

Green Skills, based in Cornwall Road, Manningham, Bradford, was launched by landscape architect Ed Hall who has been involved in community schemes in the city for the past three years.  

The business will provide training and work for previously unemployed people leading to full-time jobs for some and provide others transferable skills that will help them find employment in future.

There are currently two employees and Mr Hall hopes to see this rise to eight over the next year. Clients include a range of community groups and other social enterprises as well as charities such as Age Concern.

Said Mr Hall: “We were put in touch with PIF through the Bradford Council for Voluntary Service and I found the process of applying for a micro loan very efficient and straight forward. I’ve had previous experience of raising money for projects and can honestly say that PIF is one of the best funding organisations I have dealt with.”

In addition to the loan Green Skills is using PIF’s Money with Management service that offers a contribution to the first year cost of third party mentoring services to businesses receiving PIF funds,

Ian Howson, PIF Fund Manager, said: “One of our specific remits is to provide funds for eligible social enterprises so I am delighted that we have been able to provide a loan for Green Skills Ltd. The company is providing a range of services at a reasonable cost to clients in and around the Bradford area.”