9Ways Digital Media hails strong period of growth following NPIF funding
Stockport-based 9Ways Digital Media, a digital media solutions business, is celebrating rapid nationwide growth across primary healthcare settings following funding from the first Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund (NPIF).
Founded in 2020, 9Ways Digital Media delivers digital screens and tailored content to pharmacies, GP surgeries, primary healthcare operators and dental practises across the UK, helping to spread awareness of crucial information in an engaging, customer-centric way. 9Ways now supports almost 700 healthcare providers, helping them deliver timely public health information to patients and local communities.
Since launching during the height of the pandemic, the company has continued to adapt to the evolving needs of the healthcare sector. Increased demand for agile communication tools in pharmacies prompted the business to broaden its offer to include external digital solutions, enhanced content support and fully managed digital signage, establishing them as a specialist provider within the pharmacy sector.
To support this growth in demand, the company secured a £55,000 investment in 2023 from NPIF – GC & River Microfinance, which is managed by GC Business Finance in partnership with River Capital as part of the first Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund (NPIF).
The funding enabled the company to expand operational capacity, strengthen its digital infrastructure and recruit two additional team members to support growing demand across sales and media services. It also provided essential working capital during a key period of scale-up.
In 2025 9Ways Digital Media has delivered a strong trading performance, with turnover up to 32% year-on-year and profits increasing by 177% compared to the previous year.
Looking ahead, the business plans to continue expanding its media and content offerings within the healthcare sector, building on its established presence in pharmacies and primary care. The company is also targeting growth beyond healthcare, entering new markets where organisations require high-quality, managed media content solutions.
Stephen McGee, managing director of 9Ways Digital Marketing, said: “From the very start our passion has been to use digital innovation to transform how healthcare providers connect with the communities they serve. Support from NPIF has been instrumental in turning that vision into a reality, enabling us to invest in our people and scale our services with confidence. As a result, we’ve built a strong presence in the pharmacy sector and withManchester’s thriving digital ecosystem behind us, we’re ready to push into our next phase of growth.”
Andy Nichols, fund manager at GC Business Finance, said: “When we first met Stephen and the team, it was clear their mission was about much more than business growth – it was about creating a solution to improve patient access to vital information. It’s been inspiring to see them use the funding to do exactly this, all while growing sustainably and making an impact in primary care across the region. It just goes to show how targeted funding can not only support the regional economy, but also provide services that are essential to the general public.”
Debbie Sorby, senior investment manager at the British Business Bank, said: “The success of the first Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund is still being seen and felt across our region, with its impact stretching far beyond driving regional growth. Businesses like 9Ways Digital Media have used the Fund to grow, create new jobs, but, going much further than this, helping to improve the education and health of our society. Now, as we continue to roll out NPIF II, we’re building on this strong legacy, ensuring even more innovative Northern businesses have the support they need to scale and succeed.”
The £660m Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund II (NPIF II) provides loans from £25k to £2m and equity investment up to £5m to help small and medium-sized businesses across the North of England start up, scale up or stay ahead.
The purpose of the Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund II is to drive sustainable economic growth by supporting innovation and creating local opportunity for new and growing businesses across the North of England. The Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund II will increase the supply and diversity of early-stage finance for the North’s smaller businesses, providing funds to firms that might otherwise not receive investment and help to break down barriers in access to finance.