funding success stories

CART and Nicki B Ltd

In a unique reversal of the usual roles, social enterprise Cumbria Asset Reinvestment Trust has supported the private sector in a number of successful funding awards. One clear example of this is the financial support of St Martins School of Art and Design graduate Nicki Bates. Nicki is Managing Director and designer of childwear label, Nicki B Ltd.

In 2006, following ten successful years with her business, Nicki realised that demand was exceeding supply and thus had to look into funding for production line techniques as an alternative to producing every garment individually. Unfortunately, Nickis bank was unwilling to provide the capital required, due to the flexible repayment nature of her cash flow forecast. Nicki then approached CART and was able to negotiate a financial package which has allowed her to proceed with current research into suitable manufacturers who will not compromise on the quality of the finished product.

Patient Opinion

An investment of £100,000 from the Key Fund South Yorkshires Investment Fund will enable Sheffield-based GP Dr. Paul Hodgkin to expand his innovative social enterprise. Patient Opinion is an independent website where patients can log on and find out how other patients have rated a hospitals service. It represents a revolutionary exercise in public feedback on health services that allows patients to tell their own stories and rate the care they have received. The sites system is free to patients, completely confidential and easy to use. Patient Opinion currently covers all acute hospitals in England.

Dr Hodgkin said: “

I wanted Patient Opinion to be really useful to staff not just another stick to beat them with. So we made Patient Opinion into an independent, not-for-profit, social enterprise. It is separate from the NHS, but funded by subscriptions from hospitals and PCTs who want to access real-time patient feedback to improve services. This means we are financially independent and know that Trusts find our services good value for money.”