FAQs - NWBIS

Q. What is a “small to medium sized business”?
A. This is a business which employs less than 250 people, with a turnover of less than €50m (c.£33m) and assets of less than €43m (c.£29m).

Q. Are all sectors considered?
A. We can invest in most sectors with only a few exceptions and even those listed as ineligible in the About BIS section may not always be excluded. It’s always worth checking with us if you are in any doubt.

Q. What do you want from me?
A. You can either put your ideas on paper in the form of a business plan or fill out our online application form. A business plan needs to convey your ideas simply and easily. It should ideally be 8-12 pages of narrative accompanied by 3 years of financial projections. For further help check with your accountant or a specialist in the field or contact us for more information or assistance. You can download a quick guide on how to write a business plan here.

Q. How long will the process take?
A. This will depend on how advanced your business plan is and how involved the process. For start up or early expansion we would typically say 6-12 weeks, although it does depend on the complexity and originality of your product or service as well as the amount of funding you require. If you are buying a business or buying out a shareholder this can take between 12–16 weeks. However, this process does involve more parties and can be dependent on the vendor and therefore, may take longer.

Q. How much will it cost?
A. This depends on how many parties are involved in the transaction. If you are raising finance for your own company this is generally cheaper than if you are buying a company or shareholding. The greater the number of sources of finance generally the higher the cost. Please contact us to discuss this in detail.

Q. What happens after investment?
A. We will need regular financial reports and other information regarding any changes or progress within the business. The hope is to see your business and our investment grow and we aim to support this process.

Q. Will investors want a seat on the Board?
A. In most cases we would place a non-executive director on the board to monitor the business' progress and be on hand to give advice.

Go to the funding application form >>>