NPIF II smaller loans fund lends more than £1.3m to 22 North West firms
GC Business Finance and River Capital say 45% of loans in the first half went to female-founded businesses and 40% to minority founders.
Former Barclays executive Michael Hartig named chair of GC Business Finance
Hartig succeeds Yvonne Greeves at the Greater Manchester-based community lender, part of social enterprise The Growth Company.