3i is back in the game and ready to fund deals - in full if necessary - and has €2bn of funds to invest through its Buyout and Growth Capital funds. David Colclough from the Manchester office of the UK's oldest venture capital investor told Insider: “Now is the time to be opportunistic. My own view of the economy is that there are still some challenges, but we feel we’re through the worst. There are definite signs of momentum coming back which has given us the confidence to invest.” Insider editor Michael Taylor discusses 3i in his Deals in Focus blog.

North West logistics giant Stobart Group has secured a £100m loan from a new fund set up to support medium-sized businesses. The ten-year loan has been provided by M&G Investments through its UK Companies Financing Fund. It is the first investment that the investment arm of Prudential has made through the fund. Stobart will use the cash to repay existing bank debt and to finance further development at Southend Airport. Panmure Gordon advised M&G, while BDO acted as financial adviser to Stobart.

This year’s Big Chip Awards is now little over a week away and tickets are selling fast. The 2010 awards have attracted record number of entries from companies across the North West, with 62 entries from more than 40 businesses shortlisted. Winners will be announced at a ceremony on 10 June at the Palace Hotel in Manchester. To order your tickets for the awards contact Dara O’Hanlon on 0161 214 5200 or visit the Big Chip Awards website.

Liverpool PR agency Think Publicity has won four new clients in the past two weeks. The agency has added restaurant and bar Zeligs of Little Italy, fashion distributor Red Alert, denim brand Robin’s Jean, and staff industry night out scheme Liverpool Sinners Club to its portfolio of clients. Director Phil Nixon said the agency, which recently celebrated its firth birthday, was reaping the rewards of moving to bigger and more visible office at Liverpool One.

Renewable energy business Stiebel Eltron has called on the government to clarify its policy on green energy after it was confirmed that the Low Carbon Building Programme (LCBP) will be scrapped. The Wirral-based company said that the £85m cuts at the Department of Energy and Climate Change could have “severe detrimental effects” on the renewable industry. Director John Felgate added: “The lack of either certainty or a clear government policy can only hamper the good work currently being undertaken across the sector.”

The Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) is today launching the North West Architecture Festival 2010 at the Port of Liverpool Building. The festival is a celebration of the best architecture from across the region. Shortlisted entries for the festival’s 350 Award, which rewards architecture projects under £350,000, includes Liverpool architects firm Studio Three; Manchester’s OMI Architects and Aidan Simpson Architect; Honey Architects in Barrow; and Lancaster-based Harrison Pitt Architects; and Stanton Andrews Architects in Clitheroe.