Our sponsors help support our network and provide small and medium sized businesses various services. Short summaries explain their operations below. For more information on each, please click on the individual logos which will direct you to the relevant website.    

Independent Growth Finance (IGF) is an independently managed, invoice finance company specialising in the small and medium sized business market, namely companies from new start up to £10m turnover per annum. Part of the GLE group of companies, an economic development and investment company owned by the London boroughs, IGF was established in 1997 and provides working capital funding, sales ledger management facilities, credit control services and credit insurance services for companies countrywide.

Harbottle & Lewis provides high quality legal services to organisations and individuals working in the media and entertainment industries. From its origins in theatre, the firm has now grown to be a leading full service legal practice encompassing all areas of the media and entertainment industries, including film & television, music, broadcasting, publishing, advertising, sport and fashion as well as charities, aviation, and emerging sectors such as technology, e-commerce and interactive entertainment www.harbottle.com

Kingston Smith is a top 20 UK firm of chartered accountants specialising in advising owner managed businesses and the people behind them.  With over 400 people located in six offices around the south east, the firm also enjoys close working relationships with our fellow members in KS International, a worldwide network of accountancy firms sharing the same ethos: helping clients to succeed. Their clients tend to fall into three broad categories – entrepreneurial businesses, not-for-profit organisations and private individuals. By focussing on these specific markets, they ensure that their advice is more relevant, knowledgeable and commercial. They also aim deal efficiently with their clients´ affairs and are innovative in the services they provide.

Lark is an independent insurance broker established in 1948 and employing over 180 staff in four locations across the country. Specialising in tailor-made insurance products for commercial and private clients they have a wealth of knowledge and expertise and are happy to provide advice to GLE Growth Development clients.


LSC co-invests with members of the London Business Angel network, a market place of London and home counties based business angels. Members of the LBA network have c£15m available to invest in start-up and early stage companies. LSC invests between £50k and £100k in companies seeking between £100k and £500k.  The LBA team reviews c250 applicants per annum and invites 40 to present to the network at one of seven company presentation days held in central London. LSC exclusively invests in companies presenting at these events.  Both LBA and LSC are wholly owned subsidiaries of Greater London Enterprise Limited. GLE is owned by all 33 London boroughs. However, it is run on a commercially and constitutionally independent basis, nor does GLE rely on any public funding or subsidy. GLE's role is to make economic regeneration happen in London. GLE is influential in formatting public policy, developing innovation and delivering solutions.  

The Design Council enhances prosperity and well-being in the UK by demonstrating andpromoting the vital role of design in a modern economy. www.designcouncil.org.uk

The London Development Agency (LDA) prepares the Mayor's business plan for London and mobilises the support and resources of hundreds of partner organisations to help build a thriving economy for London's people, businesses and communities. The LDA is dedicated to improving sustainability, health and equality of opportunity for Londoners. The LDA invests more than £300m a year to support the growth of new and existing businesses, the creation of new jobs, and the development of new communities. It works to promote and grow London's strengths as the world's leading financial centre, its most vibrant cultural centre, an outstanding centre for higher education and research and the busiest global transport hub. The LDA focuses its investment on areas of greatest need and greatest potential, so that all Londoners can gain from, and contribute to, London's international competitive success. The LDA leads the promotion and marketing of London's success as an unrivalled place to live, work and do business. The LDA works to retain and grow investment and trade, and to attract more business visitors, tourists and students to London and the UK. The LDA invests directly to remove barriers to skills, knowledge and finance, and to increase equality of opportunity, so that all Londoners can get jobs, move up in jobs, and develop businesses that create jobs.
 

NESTA is the National Endowment for Science, Technology and the Arts, the organisation that invests in UK creativity and innovation. Set up by an act of Parliament in 1998, NESTA uses the interest on a National Lottery endowment to pioneer ways of supporting and promoting innovation and creativity across science, technology, the arts and learning. NESTA was created to invest at the highest point of risk, and offer individuals, groups and small businesses the time, space, money and support to push at the frontiers of knowledge and practice. It invests in a diverse range of people and projects - including scientists, inventors, engineers, medical practitioners, educators, artists, writers, film-makers and musicians. NESTA's investment means more than money. It gives people the time and flexibility they need to develop and grow - offering both funding and tailored support in the form of mentors, business expertise and specialist advice. www.nesta.org.uk.  

The Royal Bank of Scotland Group, founded in 1727, boasts a pedigree of great diversity and distinction. Here you can explore our history, archives and heritage-based teaching resources. www.rbs.com