March 2025: The South Yorkshire Pensions Authority has announced the launch of two new funds to support small to medium sized enterprises (SMEs) across the region after identifying funding gaps that are hindering growth. The Pension Authority has appointed FW Capital and Foresight Group to manage the funds.

Launched earlier this week with an event at Cutler’s Hall, The South Yorkshire Debt Fund will be managed by FW Capital and South Yorkshire Growth Equity Fund by Foresight Group. Each fund will deliver a £20million commitment of much needed finance and provide new sources of investment to support businesses to scale up and innovate. It is designed to stimulate regional growth and create high-quality, sustainable jobs.

Councillor Jayne Dunn, Chair of the South Yorkshire Pensions Authority, said: “We are proud to launch these two £20million investment funds in partnership with Foresight and FW Capital, providing vital support for SMEs across South Yorkshire. By backing local businesses, we are not only fostering economic growth but also creating jobs and driving innovation in our region. This initiative reflects our ongoing commitment to investing in South Yorkshire’s future and ensuring long-term prosperity for our communities."

The South Yorkshire Debt Fund will be managed by FW Capital, one of the UK’s largest regional fund managers with a strong record of supporting businesses in Yorkshire. The new fund is designed to support growing businesses across Barnsley, Sheffield, Doncaster and Rotherham with loans of up to £2million. Funding can be used for a variety of purposes, such as boosting working capital, purchasing equipment, recruitment, marketing and product development.

Joanne Whitfield, Fund Director at FW Capital, said: “SMEs are vital to the UK and local economies, and South Yorkshire has some impressive and resilient entrepreneurs with ambitious ideas for growth. Access to finance continues to be a significant challenge for many businesses which is why the new South Yorkshire Debt Fund has been created. We are looking forward to supporting as many businesses as we can, with investment and with expertise to help them to thrive. We’re pleased to partner with the South Yorkshire Pension Authority and Foresight to help businesses unlock their potential, boosting confidence and delivering economic prosperity  in this area.”

The South Yorkshire Growth Equity Fund will be managed by Foresight Group and is dedicated to investing in ambitious, growing companies across South Yorkshire. It will provide equity investments of up to £2million, typically as part of larger funding rounds of up to £15million through co-investing alongside Foresight’s other funds. The fund will help companies reach their growth potential and build on founders' visions across all sectors and transaction types.

Claire Alvarez, Partner at Foresight Group commented: “We are delighted to be managing this Equity Fund for the South Yorkshire Pensions Authority. We see great potential in the vibrant business community across South Yorkshire and look forward to supporting their local economy and delivering positive social outcomes by creating high-quality, local jobs.”

ENDS

Notes to editors

For more information, please contact:

South Yorkshire Pension Fund: Becci Illage, Communications Officer BIllidge@sypa.org.ukW Capital: Sarah Knox, Marketing and Communications Executive, sarah.knox@fwcapital.co.uk

Foresight Group: marketing@foresightgroup.eu

 

About South Yorkshire Pension Fund Authority

South Yorkshire Pensions Authority is the unique public body responsible for the running of the £11.1billion South Yorkshire Pension Fund which is one of the 86 funds within the Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS) in England and Wales. The Scheme has around 180,000 members working for around 600 different organisations across the County.

About FW Capital 

FW Capital is a fund management company currently managing UK-based funds of £410.8 million.

FW Capital invests in businesses located across the North and South West of England, and across Wales. FW Capital manage a range of funds providing loans to help businesses achieve their growth plans working closely with advisers and businesses to ensure the right funding package is provided for the business needs. Visit www.fwcapital.com for more information.

FW Capital is part of the DBW Group, one of the UK’s largest SME investors. The DBW Group manages funds of £2 billion. For further information on the Group visit https://developmentbank.wales.

 About Foresight Group  

Founded in 1984, Foresight is a leading investment manager in real assets and capital for growth, operating across UK, Europe, and Australia.

With decades of experience, Foresight offers investors access to attractive investment opportunities at the forefront of change.  Foresight actively builds and grows investment solutions to support the energy transition, decarbonise industry, enhance nature recovery and realise the economic potential of ambitious companies.

A constituent of the FTSE 250 index, Foresight’s diversified investment strategies combine financial and operational skillsets to maximise asset value and provide attractive returns to its investors. Its wide range of private and public funds is complemented with a variety of investment solutions designed for the retail market.

Foresight is united by a shared commitment to build a sustainable future and grow thriving companies and economies.

Visit https://foresight.group for more information.