http://www.bridgesventures.com

Bridges Community ventures is the UK’s first community development venture capital company, established to invest in ambitious Businesses in the most under-invested pars of England.

In October 2002, bridges community ventures raised £40m worth of funds, £02m from the private sector and £20m in the form of matched investment from the Government. Bridges Community Ventures’ founders, Sir Ronald Cohen of Apax Partners, Tom Singh of New Look and 3i, invested in the funs as did a range of blue chip institutions and individuals including HSBC, Lloyds TSB Scotland, West Midlands Pension Fund, Doughty Hanson, Lehman Brothers, Reuters, Schroder Salomon Smith Barney, South Yorkshire Pensions Authority and the Royal Bank of Scotland Group Pension Fund.

Bridges Community Ventures seeks growth companies at the early and expansion stages, as well as management Buy-outs, buy-ins and property backed-businesses. It seeks to invest between 3150k - £2m per company. Total transactions led by BCV range from £125k as sole investor to leading a syndicate for a total investment of over £18m. Entrepreneurs can fid out whether their business is eligible for investment by going to the website www.bridgesventures.com or calling 0207 262 5566