About CapitaliSE

Structure and governance
CapitaliSE Financial Solutions is a community interest company which aims to promote and enable access to finance for social enterprises.
The directors are Philip Angier (Chair), Mike Berriman, Anne Burleigh, Tony Kirsop, Kevin Marquis, Anne Moyle and Jim Walker.
CapitaliSE is managed by John Probert, who is also the company secretary.
The company welcomes investment and participation by new members either as ‘stewardship’ members (members subscribing £1 and entitled to vote at AGM) or as ‘investment’ members (subscribing not-voting investment shares entitled to a capped dividend).

History
The CapitaliSE project commenced in March 2004 as a result of a successful bid to the Phoenix Challenge Fund.
Until March 2008 the project was hosted and managed by the North East Social Enterprise Partnership (NESEP), and was directed by an advisory board. John Probert was employed a project manager.
The vision behind the project was to respond to an identified need to support the successful development of the social enterprise sector in the North East Region through the provision of an effective signposting and support service.
Thus CapitaliSE’s role was to: 

• Promote loan finance as an option
• Provide information and signposting
• Provide guidance and support
• Assist with loan applications
• Provide post loan support.

The expectation was that this would contribute towards social and economic inclusion as illustrated below.

When the Phoenix Funding came to an end in 2006, further funding was secured through ONE NorthEast and the Community Development Finance Association and from the Northern Rock Foundation. 
Following an extensive stakeholder consultation in 2007 it was decided to continue the work of CapitaliSE as a community interest company.

Achievements
Over the last five years (to the end of March 2009) CapitaliSE received 553 enquiries or referrals.
Of these enquiries, 95 (17%) received significant support. This varied from the general needs for financial forecasts, management accounts and business planning tasks, to the more specific needs such as legal structures, VAT advice, detailed costings, market research and other legal or technical issues. In several instances the total funding package needed to be considered and an element of grant funding was required.
Of the organisations supported, just over half were supported within the CapitaliSE project by the project manager. The remainder received external support.
As a result of the above support, to date 65 of these organisations have secured loans amounting to more than £4.3 million. The chart below indicates the level of growth in the take up of loans.

Loan size have varied between £15,000 and £325,000. The purposes of the loans have been anticipated - i.e. property purchase, property refurbishment, capital equipment, vehicles, working capital, bridge and gap funding.