Member News
UMi, a leading business advice and funding solutions specialist, has reached a major milestone by unlocking more than £1 billion in investment for British businesses since its launch in 2007.
The funding, which includes grants, loans and private sector investment, has supported ambitious start-ups, growing SMEs and established companies across the UK including the North East.
Working in partnership with both public and private sector organisations, UMi has been pivotal in helping businesses access the right support to innovate, expand, and in some cases, survive.
The achievement comes at a key time for the UK’s business community - the Government recently unveiled its Small Business Plan, a landmark package designed to help SMEs access finance, boost digital adoption, and strengthen leadership skills. UMi’s track record of delivering investment and support reflects and amplifies many of these national priorities.
In the North East alone, UMi has been at the heart of the region’s growth journey for over 18 years having seen circa £800m of the total £1bn being invested in 5,000+ businesses located from Northumberland down to the Tees Valley. This has played a significant part in SME growth within the regional economy as well as generating circa 44,000 local jobs.
One example is the Business Growth Fund (a programme individually supported by Gateshead, South Tyneside and Sunderland City Councils) and this has enabled Wearside’s TWR Group to secure a £50,000 grant to relocate its entire operation to a new 65,000sq ft facility.
Terry O’Brien, Managing Director of TWR Group, said: “As a family business which started life not far from our existing location, it has been a real labour of love renovating our new site.
“Opening our new facility marked an exciting milestone for the business, ensuring we can continue to meet the increasing demand we’re seeing for our products. It has also allowed us to create two new jobs, with more to follow, while providing the space required to ensure, as we continue to grow, we have the ability and flexibility to expand our operations. It’s key to our future growth plans so it’s a really proud moment for us as both a family and as a business.”
Grants are equally important to unlock and support growth in the region’s businesses and UMi works with firms to raise capital in line with objectives. A great example is Lant Medical based in Northumberland whereby a blended finance and investment package was needed.
The medical solutions specialist received support to secure £500,000 in investment from Innovate UK and two angel investors from the Northern Investor Hub to design a clinical trial for a promising new non-antibiotic treatment, designed to eradicate cancer-causing Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori).
Joanne Lant, Founder of Lant Medical commented: “I’m excited by the possibility this treatment could help a lot of people understand what H.Pylori is, get an early test and treat it without antibiotics to drastically reduce side effects. It will contribute to cost-savings and efficiency for the patient and NHS, saving multiple trips to GPs and reducing the number of costly antibiotics prescribed.
“We are incredibly grateful to Innovate UK for providing grant funding, to our angel investors for their belief and investment, and to UMi for making all this possible. This funding marks a crucial step in our mission to develop a safer, more effective approach to treating H. Pylori and improving global health.”
Nicki Clark OBE, Chief Executive of UMi, expressed her appreciation and enthusiasm for achieving this milestone by saying: “This is a fantastic achievement and a significant milestone for UMi as we continue to support businesses up and down the country and across all industries. Our teams do an amazing job working hand in hand with our customers to ensure they access the right funding solutions tailored to their needs. Reaching this milestone underscores our commitment to supporting businesses from the very start of their journey and helping them succeed.
“Since 2007, we have seen so many businesses go on to achieve great things because of the funding they have received. From launching and scaling up to delivering new products, services or driving forward innovation, we’ve witnessed first-hand the incredible impact these small businesses have had (and continue to have), with UMi helping to navigate the funding landscape, driving growth on a local, regional and national level too – it’s great to see.”
According to British Business Bank, 60% of SMEs struggle to access the right funding simply because they often don’t know how to navigate the process or what finance options are available in the marketplace. Whether grants, loans or investments, it can often be seen as ‘daunting’ and so dedicated services like UMi’s ‘Get Funding’ and ‘Sat Nav’ are vital to offer expert, step by step guidance and tailored ‘one-stop-shop’ support.
Nicki added: “Over the last 18 years, our teams have advised (and/or supported) close to 680,000 businesses which is remarkable, and it is this initial guidance that can make all the difference to business owners. We’ve purposely launched our own service - Get Funding, so that companies can easily navigate their funding journey and obtain expert advice and tailored one-to-one support as and when required.
“This one-stop-shop approach helps align our expert knowledge with a client’s specific needs, meaning funding solutions can be found and informed decisions made in line with their objectives and growth plans. Our Sat Nav platform then compliments this, providing business owners with tools and resources on many other business challenges, including funding, so the support doesn’t end once the money is in the bank.”
As part of the UK Government’s recent Small Business Plan, Minister for Small Business and Parliamentary under Secretary of State, Gareth Thomas MP, highlighted a boost for SMEs with new start-up loans and the most ‘comprehensive support package in a generation’ being launched to give businesses the tools they need to do more and drive economic growth.
UMi believes the move will further strengthen its offering too by encouraging more SMEs to seek advice and funding routes to help generate growth, create new jobs and deliver a sustainable economy where people thrive.
Since 2007, UMi has supported more than 680,000 businesses across the UK, investing £335m in grants and loans, unlocking £670m in private investment, creating or protecting 46,000 jobs and enabling contract wins worth £200m.
Across the UK, UMi’s work has not only helped businesses secure investment but has also created wider economic and social impact. From ambitious start-ups to established blue chip companies, the organisation helps businesses do more and go further by simplifying their journey and connecting them to the support they need.
