Nicola Horlick, the fund manager once dubbed City Superwoman, has been appointed a non-executive director of Bristol-based pension-led funding specialists Clifton Asset Management.
Horlick, pictured, who launched crowdfunding platform Money&Co. in April last year, will help to guide Clifton through its next phase of growth.
The company facilitates investment into SMEs from the pension funds of directors and business owners. It also operates the website pensionledfunding.com. 
Horlick has been a leading fund manager in the City of London for more than 30 years. She earned the Superwoman tag after showing that it was possible to have a highly successful career while bringing up her six children.
She has set up and managed several investment businesses. Money&Co. has a shared interest with Clifton as it provides loans to SMEs looking to grow their businesses.
She said: “I get approached for non-exec roles almost every week, but what particularly attracted me to Clifton was that pension-led funding is something that is genuinely original and disruptive in the pension space.
“Pension-led funding has the potential to become a much more mainstream funding solution for SMEs – particularly as the Government, through pension freedom, has changed the mindset of not touching your pension until retirement. As a result, we are seeing a new wave of entrepreneurs turning to their pension funds for growth capital.”
Ham Green-based Clifton is one of the largest providers of alternative business finance in the UK having facilitated more than £250m in funding to more than 1,500 businesses. Its pension-led funding is aimed specifically at business owners and directors who have accumulated pension funds greater than £50,000. They do not need to be 55 or over, and should there be more than one owner director in the same firm, the pension funds can be amalgamated to invest in the business.
Research by the Government’s innovation charity Nesta found that almost two-thirds of SMEs using pension-led funding increased their profits rise – and almost half employed more people.
Clifton chairman Adam Tavener said: “We’re delighted that Nicola has decided to become a non-executive director of our company. Her huge experience in the City and more recently in the alternative funding market will undoubtedly benefit both Clifton and pensionledfunding.com.
“Pension-led funding has huge growth potential. Many entrepreneurs and business owners have been forced to personal guarantees, often putting their family home at risk. Pension-led funding allows business owners to invest in their businesses and potentially create a larger pot of money for their retirement if the business succeeds.”
