The team at Frontier Development Capital (FDC) has expanded following its appointment to manage the new Midlands Engine Investment Fund II (MEIF II) – Debt Finance.
The MEIF II offers investments from £100,000 to £2m to support SMEs in the West Midlands with the finance needed to help their business grow to the next level. Funding can be for hiring a new team, launching a new product or service, funding marketing costs, or purchasing new machinery or equipment.
Raj Minhas and Ryan Cartwright have joined the team as Investment Managers to support the deal origination for the MEIF II, both bringing a wealth of knowledge and experience in the Financial Services sector.
We asked both Raj and Ryan a few questions to learn more about their backgrounds.
Tell us about yourself and your background.
I have been working in the Financial Services Sector for 37 years of which 30 years were with NatWest, primarily as a Senior Relationship Manager in the SME commercial and corporate banking sectors and 7 years with Maven Capital Partners as an Investment Manager under the Midland Engine Investment Fund Debt mandate. Through my years of experience, I have gained detailed knowledge and understanding of the SME market having managed a broad portfolio of commercial customers with varying turnovers up to £25m predominantly in the manufacturing sector but also including services, healthcare, property, and leisure.
Outside of work amongst spending time with the family, I enjoy walking for miles with my English Springer, watching cricket and visiting Florida.
What drew you to FDC?
To continue the deployment on the Debt Fund under the Midland Engine Investment Fund II mandate for which FDC had successfully tendered.
What is the best piece of advice you have been given?
“Always show integrity, have manners and be respectful to everybody.”
Tell us an interesting fact about yourself.
Long story but I was once mistaken for an officer of the law in Prague!
Tell us about yourself and your background.
I have been in the SME Finance Sector for 18 years, starting at RBS and NatWest Group working with Commercial Businesses in Staffordshire. Following this, I built my experience in supporting SME Growth with several other Finance and Support Organisations before joining the British Business Bank as Regional Manager for the West Midlands. I built my understanding of a range of alternative funding options from equity to debt and supported the Fund Managers who were delivering the Midlands Engine Investment Fund. It was through these contacts I joined The FSE Group to deliver MEIF and am pleased to continue this through FDC and the MEIF II fund.
What drew you to FDC?
I have known some of the people at FDC for a number of years and it is a name I hear mentioned a lot in the local finance ecosystem. FDC have done some amazing things to support local SME's access finance to grow and that is what I am all about. The culture and structure was appealing as I have been used to a level of openness and sharing of opinions to shape the direction of travel for some of my previous employers. Now I am here, I have been even more surprised and pleased with the approach and organisation of FDC and am excited to be delivering MEIF 2 with the team.
What is the best piece of advice you have been given?
Don't burn any bridges!
Tell us an interesting fact about yourself.
I once played darts with MVG and Eric Bristow!
Andy Green, Deputy Fund Principal for the MEIF II – Debt Finance, said: “FDC is thrilled to have been selected to manage the MEIF II – Debt Finance and back the next generation of high-potential businesses. As a result of this new mandate, FDC has expanded the team with two new well-experienced professionals to help deliver financial support to SMEs across the West Midlands”.