Make Liverpool

Background

Make Liverpool have supported artists, makers and small businesses since 2014, providing them with access to the space and tools they need. Make also offer educational opportunities and workshops for the creative community as well as hosting exhibitions and events. Helping the community support itself in being self-sufficient, independent and inspired, Make have played a key role in contributing to and transforming the areas they operate in.

Investment

With a growing cultural and creative events programme, Make found that limited facilities, systems and staff were holding them back. To expand their offering would require significant investment.
Originally based in Liverpool’s Baltic Triangle, Make opened a second site in the city’s growing North Docks cultural cluster, an area currently undergoing large scale regeneration.

The Reach Fund

Working with Make, we identified a number of areas that needed to be strengthened in order for them to become investment ready. First Ark Social Investment are an access point to the Reach Fund, a grant programme that provides organisations with investment readiness support. With our help, Make submitted a successful application for the £14,000 grant, enabling them to source support from professional advisors to develop a comprehensive business plan and financial control policies which would guide the company and its board over the period of investment.

Invest for Impact

With their readiness plan now in place, Make were ready to apply for investment from Invest for Impact. Providing social finance as a blend of grant and loan, Invest for Impact help organisations to grow and become sustainable. Make’s application was a success and a loan of £108,000 and grant of £42,000 was approved. The funds will be used to convert part of the warehouse into a multi-use events space to accommodate more classes and educational programmes for the local community.