Investment non-profit NorthInvest has appointed senior business leader, Jordan Dargue, to its Board of Directors. Operating across the investment, finance and business growth landscape, Jordan’s significant entrepreneurial experience combined with her passion for the Northern SME economy will help drive NorthInvest’s strategic direction at a key time for the organisation.

Nick Berry extolls the benefits of using equity to empower staff, differentiate from the competition and accelerate success in small businesses...

Gannons recently presented a webinar on the important topic of what it takes to successfully sell a business.  The webinar focused on giving founders and business owners top tips on how to prepare for a sale and how to avoid the most common tripwires for businesses looking for an exit.  Here's a summary of some of the key things entrepreneurs need to think about before selling their business.  

A new University of Birmingham spinout, Salinity Solutions, is partnering with the mineral exploration and mining industry with a compact, energy-efficient desalination system that can concentrate the salts in ground water to extract a mineral rich brine. 

The company will be field-testing the system with eco-technology company Cornish Lithium, which has secured agreements with the owners of mineral rights over a large area of the county of Cornwall. 

Modwenna Rees-Mogg considers the challenge angel investors face in valuing companies and offers a solution….

BGF, the UK and Ireland’s most active investor, has exited its investment in HeleCloud, a leading independent AWS Premier Consulting Partner, following its acquisition by SoftwareONE Holding AG, a global provider of end-to-end software and Cloud technology solutions.

Method Grid, providers of an enterprise-level connected assurance platform for regulated sectors, including engineering-construction and consultancy, with plans to expand into new project-based sectors, have raised their third round of investment from a network of eleven private investors. Including new funding and conversion of loan into equity, Method Grid have received a total of roughly £1 million to fuel their expansion into new markets and development of their integrated platform capabilities.

Redrock Entertainment offers tax benefits to investors.  For more information, visit Funding for Entrepreneurs 

Goldman Sachs veteran Sheila Patel has joined the board of Antler, as the global early-stage venture capital firm continues its international expansion. With three decades of experience in financial asset management, Patel has become a global leader in the asset management industry. 

The latest diversity report from FinTech recruitment company Storm2, has found that female representation in Nordic FinTech engineering teams stands at 11%, below the global average of 17%.

Digital and tech start up investment network NorthInvest has extended its strategic partnership with law firm Gordons following a successful three-year relationship.

Richard Horwell of Brand Relations looks at the reality of the alcohol-free spirits market.