Daisy Ford-Downes

Head of Group Investment Programmes

2021 - Current

I lead the Investment Team at Firstport, designing and delivering innovative investment for social and purpose-led entrepreneurs in Scotland, including: - Launch Me, our investment readiness programme supporting ambitious social enterprises to feel comfortable and confident with repayable finance. - Step Up, a 0% interest loan from £5k-£30k for social enterprises looking to fund successful growth strategies - the Catalyst Fund, a £15m revenue-based loan fund providing flexible equity-like finance for social enterprises from £50k upwards

Venture Scout

2020

Ada Ventures finds and funds extraordinary talent-building breakthrough ideas for the hardest problems we face. We invest across climate, economic empowerment and healthcare & ageing.

Social Investment Executive

2018 - 2021

Resilient Scotland delivered social investment to enable organisations to have an impact on the regeneration of their communities. As part of the team, I participated in: - Assessing applications for investment - potential social impact and suitability of repayable finance - Presenting assessments to Investment Panel - Portfolio management of investees, building trusting, supportive relationships - Design and implementation of social impact measurement and management systems - Business development and product strategy - Representing Resilient in the social investment and entrepreneurship fields

Business Partner, Scottish Investment Bank

2014 - 2018

The Scottish Investment Bank (now Scottish Enterprise Growth Investments) is the investment arm of Scottish Enterprise, Scotland's main economic development body. SIB co-invests in deals (debt and equity) into high growth Scottish companies. As part of the team, I participated in: • Guiding transaction & portfolio management colleagues through investment process • Attending Investment Committee to advise on risk, governance and regulatory issues • Assessing deal eligibility for co-investment • Researching approach to Inclusive Growth with focus on inclusive models, mission-driven businesses and social investment • Maintaining current knowledge of UK, Scottish Government and European policies; finance and funding landscape; legal and regulatory environment • Management of internal corporate governance procedures, including continuous improvement of investment processes across all funds • Advising on projects and overseeing project management process within team • Delivering rigorous risk management systems at corporate and company levels • Communicating complex information simply (including financial, regulatory and legal) • Building strong relationships with own team and across the wider organisation

Assistant Manager, Audit & Advisory

2011 - 2014

• Planning and delivering statutory audits, non-financial audits and advisory work for range of clients (including SMEs, PLCs, charities and public sector bodies) and industries • Understanding and testing complex accounting and compliance matters • Utilising commercial awareness to build rapid understanding of an organisation • Identifying and communicating process and controls recommendations to clients to add value • Building relationships throughout all levels of an organisation, internally and externally • Presenting information, analysis and findings at internal and external meetings • Delivering to tight deadlines and balancing up to five simultaneous engagements • Managing fieldwork teams to ensure efficient, high quality work • Supporting and coaching junior staff in technical skills and career development

Business Start-up Support Assistant

2010 - 2011

• Planning and delivering business start-up events for young people and students • Performing information audit for Shell LiveWire programme to catalogue business literature • Writing and editing enterprise support literature for online publication

Enterprise Intern

2009 - 2010

• Designing, planning and delivering events promoting entrepreneurial skills and career paths for NU Careers Service Entrepreneurial Development Unit • Offering business start-up support to students and graduates at the Elevator start-up facility

Co-ordinator

2008 - 2009

• 1st employee at mission-led eco-startup. Day-to-day ops, and involvement in strategic decision-making with directors • Identifying client CSR needs and tailoring projects to suit corporate and stakeholder needs • Planning and implementing projects • Building relationships all levels with clients, councils, landowners, schools and patrons • Understanding global and local environmental issues, and their interaction with business operations, with a focus on biodiversity and ecosystem services • Organising events and copywriting

Administrative Assistant

2007 - 2007

Policy Research Intern

2007 - 2007

• Research for policy publications on education and welfare • Organisation of events with MPs, peers, academics and business leaders