An early and interim stages evaluation of the UK government’s Regional Investment Funds to support potential high growth SME early stage and scale-up development; comprising of Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund (£400m), Midlands engine Investment Fund (£250m) and Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Investment Fund (£40m). The project involves development of a robust multi-method evaluative approach incorporating qualitative process evaluation, quantitative surveys and counterfactual econometric modelling and longitudinal case studies of assisted businesses to assess programme impact, additionality and value for money across a range of loan, equity and mezzanine financing interventions in different English regions.
