River Capital

We’re welcoming Mark Nash to the River Capital team as Debt Portfolio Manager. Mark arrives with extensive experience in commercial and corporate finance where his previous roles include Relationship Director and trading business banking specialist . His career has been built on trusted adviser relationships — helping businesses access the right funding to grow, manage cashflow, and create jobs across the North West and beyond. Mark spent 31 years at NatWest Group, 26 of those in Commercial Banking managing and growing client portfolios, before moving to a mirror role at Handelsbanken. Prior to joining River Capital, he was with SPF Private Clients as a business finance advisory specialist and has worked predominantly across the North West but with client coverage extending across the UK. Now at River Capital, Mark is looking forward to resourcing his background knowledge to help existing and future clients and providing ongoing funding guidance as they grow with the objective of job creation. Outside of work, Mark is a Trustee of one of the largest autism charities in the country, supporting autistic-led enterprise in the community. Welcome to the team Mark!

We're proud to be supporting the Lancashire Business View Funding Summit on 17th June. River Capital's Head of Debt, John Gray, will be taking to the stage to talk about the funding support we've delivered across Lancashire over the last two years and, just as importantly, what's available right now for businesses with ambition. Lancashire has a strong and diverse business community, and we've been genuinely pleased to play a part in its growth. From established SMEs looking to scale to businesses navigating a period of change, we've worked with companies across the county to get the right finance in place. If you're at the summit and want to understand what funding might look like for your business come and find John, Jonathan Nelson or Mark Nash on the day. We have funds to deploy and we're ready when you are! 📅 Date: Wednesday, 17 June 2026 ⏰ Time: 08:30am - 11:00am 🏚️ Location: Village Hotel, East Park Drive, Blackpool, Lancashire, FY3 8LL Register here: https://lnkd.in/epRaG_sw

It was great to be part of Insider Media's Dealmakers Lunch recently as the series made its Liverpool debut at the The Royal Liver Building. Our CEO Mark Borzomato joined a strong panel that spoke openly about what's actually driving growth in the city region and the bit that stuck was that Liverpool doesn't need to own every sector. The businesses making real progress here are the ones going deep in specific niches: Applied tech, knowledge economy, and founders who've found their lane and committed to it. One of those founders was Chris Ellerby-Hemmings of EmpoweredFit Gym, a River Capital portfolio company, who told the story of building through lockdown, before he and co-founder Thea Holden received a further six-figure investment through the Business Growth Loan Fund to support their expansion, and allowed them to open a second location in Liverpool City Centre. Its safe to say the ecosystem is definitely moving and we expect more scale, more exits and more re-investment coming back into the region. Check out the post event coverage from Insider Media below.

What's it really like to work with River Capital?! Perran Cooke founded Sowena Group in June 2024 with a clear vision: place the right finance candidates with the right businesses, every time. In less than a year, they'd backed that up with a 100% placement success rate — in an industry where 25–30% attrition is considered normal. We supported that ambition with a six-figure investment from the North West Business Growth Loan Fund — from first conversation with River Capital investment manager Chris Carter to funding in four weeks. That investment has gone toward adding quality people, and the rollout of Kelmi Intelligence — a data-led candidate matching platform that goes beyond skillset to assess behavioural and emotional fit. Check out the video below and see what Perran really thought about his River Capital experience!

The Current is live 🌊 Edition 01 of River Capital's monthly newsletter is out now — covering the deals we've done, the businesses we're backing, and what's really happening in the North West funding landscape. This month: urfuture, Brow HQ, Kidz Pamper Bus & Kidz Party Bus Ltd, a PASTA COSA LIMITED spotlight, funding insight, and the upcoming Lancashire Funding Summit. Check it out today!

We're heading to Blackpool. 🎡 As a sponsor of the Lancashire Business View Funding Summit on 17 June — if you're thinking about funding, come and have a proper conversation with the team. Debt funding from £25,000 - £500,000 and equity & venture capital cheque sizes up to £2m — we cover a lot of ground and we're happy to talk through whatever stage you're at. Secure your place and find out more here: https://lnkd.in/epRaG_sw 📍 Village Hotel, Blackpool 🗓️ 17 June 2026 ⏰ 08.30–11.00

We're celebrating two years of British Business Bank North of England's NPIF II with 449 deals and nearly £275m invested across the North West. We're proud to be part of the fund delivering that — backing businesses through the Smaller Loans £25,000 - £100,000 fund alongside GC Business Finance and supporting founders requiring funding to realise their ambition. Over the past two years we've supported businesses right across the region from Cumbria to Lancashire to Liverpool. From early-stage businesses still finding their feet, to more established ones ready to take the next step. Different sectors, different stories, but the same common thread: ambition that just needed a bit of backing. Yoga Rise in Blackpool is one example — a small investment that's helped them upgrade their studio, overhaul their booking system and build something more sustainable for both their instructors and students. But thats just one story of many. If you're a North West business thinking about your next move — or an advisor working with one, let's organise a chat with our NPIF II team Sue Chambers & Jonathan Nelson, and determine if this fund is right for you. Check out the full story here: https://lnkd.in/ekPRDCcX

📢 River Capital backs Chorley children's entertainment business Kidz Pamper Bus & Kidz Party Bus Ltd with follow-on funding When a business keeps delivering, you keep backing it! Kidz Pamper Bus Ltd has secured a £50,000 follow-on investment through NPIF II – River Capital & GC Business Finance Smaller Loans, building on the relationship first established with initial funding in March 2025. Founded and led by Rebecca McGregor, Kidz Pamper Bus brings themed parties, mini makeovers, hair styling and entertainment directly to families' doorsteps — all from a pair of converted mobile buses. More than 60,000 Facebook followers and 5,000 on Instagram and 168 bookings already made in 2026 alone. The demand is very real. The funding will go towards purchasing and converting a new Luton-style van that unlocks more residential locations and new market segments. Alongside a refurb of the existing Pamper Bus are upgrades to the booking system, CRM and website. Five new part-time jobs in the Chorley area are also expected to follow. What makes Kidz Pamper Bus stand out beyond the growth story is its community commitment, working alongside charity High Five, which supports children with additional needs, and providing complimentary visits to Derian House Children's Hospice. Huge congrats to Rebecca McGregor and the whole team as well as River Capital investment manager Jonathan Nelson. 👏

News: 📢 River Capital backs Lancashire Odoo specialists Smart IT with £300,000 growth loan We're welcoming Smart IT - Global Odoo ERP Gold Partner to the River Capital portfolio, following a £300,000 investment through the North West Business Growth Loan Fund. The Kirkham-based business has spent 15 years becoming one of the UK's most respected Odoo ERP partners and the results speak for themselves. Gold Partner status (the highest accreditation available in the UK), 120+ clients, and a client list that includes Ringtons, Muji, and NHS Digital. Demand for Odoo has surged across the UK over the past 18 months, and Smart IT have invested to stay ahead — building a dedicated support division, expanding their product offering, and launching an in-house training academy to bring new talent through the door. The result? A seven-figure secured order book and a pipeline of larger, more complex opportunities than ever before. The funding will also help founder and CEO Barry Bullen and the team recruit up to 10 new people in Lancashire showcasing their commitment to the region. Congrats to Barry and the whole Smart IT team. 👏 Full story here: https://lnkd.in/eb4sAV5C

Something a little bit different from us today... Nearly four years ago, one of our own, Andy Jones experienced a double stroke. He was only 53, fit and healthy and a key member of our team. After a period focused on his recovery, Andy inspirationally returned to River Capital and now works 5 days a week. On the days he comes to the office, he provides laughs and a serious wit that catches out the best of them and anecdotes second to none. Importantly he remains fantastic at his job, builds great relationships both internally and externally and shows a true commitment to the businesses he works with. He joined Jerry Wald recently to discuss his stroke journey and his recovery - honest, raw and inspirational. Well done Andy!