Donbac is celebrating "over £25 million in 25 years….." investment into the Doncaster and South Yorkshire economy by helping and funding businesses!
The story so far……
25 years and still going strong! Some do say that the one constant is "CHANGE" and what better testimony to this than Donbac's, 25 years, adapting to the ever changing business support environment?
25 years ago, Donbac opened as one of the first enterprise agencies in the region and quickly became widely acknowledged as a key deliverer of business advice. With support from British Rail Engineering Ltd, a Loan Fund to help local businesses was added, creating a benchmark agency which others followed.
Over the years, >Donbac has seen highs and lows of the regional economy affecting our business community and many business support organisations come and go. This continues today….. the loss of RDA's, Business Link and the creation of Local Enterprise Partnerships.
Donbac has constantly adapted to these changes, playing a vital partnership role by supporting enterprise projects, partner organisations, awarding significant grant funding for enterprise in education projects and investing in other funding organisations such as South Yorkshire Investment Fund (SYIF). And the rest as they say is history………
2008 saw the Donbac passion and mission "here to help all local businesses" emerge again, when the Board took the decision to reinvigorate Donbac activities for the benefit of businesses in Doncaster and South Yorkshire.
Donbac is a well respected successful Enterprise Agency and Community Development Finance Institution (CDFI) acknowledged as a key provider of microfinance in the area.
In this, our 25th Anniversary year, the Donbac team has recently relocated to a new office at the Doncaster Business Innovation Centre, (DBIC) co locating alongside the Chamber of Commerce Enterprise team. A long way from the days when the Donbac office was opened in Town Centre.
From the new office today, the Donbac passion and mission continues, meeting the needs of businesses in Doncaster and South Yorkshire, with access to loan funding and excellent business support.
A major boost to our region…………
Impressively, in just 2 years, our work has helped over 350 businesses to create or safeguard over 600 jobs from £4 million invested!
So where next?
Many businesses and intermediaries know or remember the Donbac name but may not know the activities or level of funding we put into the local business economy.
Working alongside partners and others so as not to duplicate services and avoid confusion for the client Donbac concentrates on what it does best, by:
- Providing funding for clients who are unable to access mainstream funding, often due to lack of security or funders considering client start up business too high risk, Donbac has assisted growth in the local economy and increased both economic and social impact.
- Providing finance to clients with poor credit histories, Donbac helps them to improve their creditworthiness for future borrowings.
And to the future?
Who knows what the future holds in this environment, with many changes expected?
Our commitment is set to continue and here is a flavour of what we are doing……
Providing much needed finance for businesses into 2011 and beyond, Donbac will shortly be announcing exciting new microfinance funds for the area.
Donbac continues to support and encourage enterprise in schools. A new "Donbac Young Chamber" Evergreen Enterprise Fund, is released in November to support start up enterprise projects in Doncaster schools.
Allen Hickling, Chairman. Donbac Ltd
For more information contact Donbac on 01302 341070 or Email: info@donbac.co.uk
