Larger firms offered £2bn bank funds for growth

Allied Irish Bank (GB) has launched four funds totalling £2 billion to help medium to large sized businesses tap into finance for growth.

The funds, each offering £500m of finance, are available to businesses in themanufacturing,healthcare, hotels & hospitality and professional practices sectors across the UK.

The business bank’s regional director in Scotland, Billy Macleod, said: “These are sectors with strong players in Scotland. I hope that businesses here take advantage of this initiative and I am sure a significant number will benefit from these funds to help them achieve their ambitions this year.”

The bank, part of the Belfast-based Allied Irish Banks group, employs 600 people across its office network, including locations inglasgowandedinburgh.