Northern Society of Chartered Accountants

Ian joined Northstar Ventures in 2007, before becoming a director of the company in 2010. He oversees the Proof of Concept and Social Investment Funds  as well as looking after the investment portfolio across all funds.

Prior to joining Northstar Ventures, Ian worked for NatWest Bank and 3i.

Michael is a Chartered Accountant and qualified corporate financier and has practiced Corporate Finance in the North East for over 25 years. During that time, he has built up a strong network of contacts across funders, lawyers and ambitious clients throughout the North of England.

His primary role is to assist clients in buying and selling businesses, as well as raising funding for a range of projects including restructuring and MBOs. Michael has substantial experience of a wide range of transactions and significant experience in many sectors, as well as lots of contacts in the debt and private equity markets both locally and nationally.

Michael was previously a non-executive of the North East Regional Investment Fund and he continues to sit on the boards of RTC North and Back on the Map, a housing charity in Sunderland. Michael was named Insider’s Dealmaker of the Year in 2012 and 2013.

Neil is Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (FCMA), a Chartered Director and Fellow of the Institute of Directors.

He operated at the Finance Director level for 15 years for growing SMEs. As Finance and Operations Director of Director bank Ltd. he secured the finance to double the size of the business via corporate acquisition. During his time as Finance Director of Guidance Enterprise Group Ltd (GEG), again via corporate acquisition, the turnover was tripled whilst profit margins and cash generation were maintained. Whilst at GEG, Neil led, from a commercial finance point of view, the valuation growth and ultimate sale of the company to a consortium of two PLC’s.

Neil has a keen interest and significant experience in the delivery of Strategic Finance solutions to SMEs. In the last three years he has successfully assisted a wide range of SME’s with the formulation and delivery of their business Strategies and with their Investment Readiness and acquisition of applicable growth finance.