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Enterprise

Midlands Engine Investment Fund passes £50m milestone

Investment vehicle has agreed deals with more than 150 companies since it was launched last year

From left: Lauren Tunnicliffe from British Business Bank, Jon Whitmore and Patrick Shuker from Rent Chief and David Baker from Mercia Fund Managers

More than 150 companies have received £50 million in funding since the launch of a new investment programme last year.

Midlands Engine Investment Fund (MEIF) announced the milestone at an anniversary event in Leicester this evening which welcomed 150 members of the Midlands business community alongside Communities Secretary and Midlands Engine Champion James Brokenshire.

The £250 million fund is run by the Government's British Business Bank and was launched with the aim of making debt and equity investments from £25,000 to £2 million to help SMEs secure the funding they need for growth and development.

MEIF said the most active sector to receive investment had been manufacturing followed by agri-tech, life sciences and transport technologies.

Among those to have benefited from its help recently are Birmingham-based Rent Chief which was founded by serial entrepreneurs Patrick Shuker and Jon Whitmore.

It is using £250,000 of equity finance to launch its online property management platform to the market.

Also receiving fresh capital was Leicester-based Groovy º£½ÇÊÓÆµ.

The wholesale giftware firm creates and sells branded goods, with exclusive º£½ÇÊÓÆµ and European distribution rights via licences for popular names such as Star Wars, Harry Potter, Marvel and Doctor Who.