BCRS Small Business Loans has welcomed four new members to its Board, who share the same strong belief in supporting business and enterprise within the region.
The member investors, who all have first-hand experience of working in and developing West Midlands based businesses, have joined as non-executive directors to add to the ever growing dynamics of the BCRS board.
Anna-Maria McAuliffe, Finance Director at Wolverhampton based McAuliffe Civil Engineering Ltd, who also sits as Chair of the Metro Business Partnership decided to join BCRS after recognising the important function that it offered small businesses in the Black Country and Staffordshire.
“I am committed to the economic prosperity of the Black Country and being a voice of local businesses with the local Council and Government. Having both my McAuliffe Civil Engineering Ltd and Metro Business Partnership Ltd hat on and now a BCRS version, I hope to be able to help provide advice, support and direction to businesses in need,” said Anna-Maria.
Anna-Maria is joined by Jackie Casey, Managing Director of Success Train Ltd; a Business and Continuous Improvement Consultancy based in Kingswinford, Rob Hill, Finance Director at Dudley based manufacturer, Metallisation Ltd and John Rider the West Midlands Chair of the Institute of Directors
Jackie is also an Officer of the Black Country Constructing Excellence Club (BCCEC) and Chair of the Women Working in Construction group (WWIC). She is passionate about women’s development particularly in sectors where women are under-represented. Rob Hill brings with him broad business experience after holding three large group-wide roles. His sector experience includes manufacturing, financial, taxation and secretarial matters, IT systems development, and human resource management. John Rider has extensive experience of business integration and change management and has held three large group-wide roles and ten operating board positions
BCRS was founded as the Black Country Reinvestment Society in 2002 as a Community Development Finance Institution (CDFI) to assist small businesses to grow and prosper by providing access to finance to those that are unable to get loans from traditional sources such as banks.
The not for profit lender has just celebrated its 10th anniversary having made over £10 million of loans to over 400 customers.
Paul Kalinauckas, Chief Executive for BCRS said “We are delighted to have Anna, Jackie Rob and John on our board. By investing in BCRS they are helping us to support the growth of small businesses in the region.
“We’ve grown by 100% in the last two years and we know the pressures small business owners are under when it comes to accessing finance. These endorsements from senior members of the business community will help us grow and develop our services.”
BCRS is keen to widen its membership from people who want to contribute in a practical way to the economic growth and regeneration of theBlack Country. By making an investment in BCRS, from as little as £250, members become part of a mutual and democratic Society and join like-minded people keen to play a part in developing the future prosperity of the Black Country and environs.
For more information on BCRS contact 0845 313 8410
