Member News
A County Durham-based business support firm has been recognised nationally for its use of digital innovation to help companies access funding and advice.
UMi has won the Innovation and Digital Transformation in Enterprise award at the National Enterprise Network Awards 2026, highlighting the impact of its UMi Sat Nav for Business platform.
The platform brings together more than 7000 support opportunities and practical resources into a single digital hub, using data and behavioural insights to deliver tailored guidance to businesses.
Designed to simplify a complex support landscape, it connects users with funding, tools and advice aligned to their needs.
Since launching in 2021, UMi Sat Nav has attracted more than one million users, with over 40,000 registered businesses accessing personalised support.
The platform has also been adopted by the British Business Bank as part of its Start Up Loans mentoring programme, extending its national reach.
UMi, which is a fully employee-owned B Corp, has provided advice to more than 700,000 businesses across the UK since its launch in 2007, having recently reached a milestone of unlocking more than £1 billion in investment for British businesses since its inception.
Attending the awards ceremony in London were UMi’s chief technology and investment officer Simon Goon and chief funding solutions officer Julie Cuthbertson, pictured below.
Julie said: “We are incredibly proud to receive this award.
“It reflects our belief that enterprise support should be simple, accessible, and built around the real needs of businesses.
“With UMi Sat Nav, we set out to do something bold – provide a fully integrated, 24/7, user-focused experience of business support.
“This recognition reinforces the importance of innovation in helping businesses not just survive but truly thrive.”
Carol Daniels, operations director at National Enterprise Network, added: “The NEN Awards 2026 are a fantastic celebration of the people and organisations making a real difference to entrepreneurs and communities across the UK.
“The passion, innovation and commitment shown by this year’s winners and finalists is truly inspiring.
“It was a privilege to recognise their achievements and to celebrate the collective impact of our network.
“Huge congratulations to UMi, the winners of our Innovation & Digital Transformation award for their game-changing platform, UMi Sat Nav for Business.
“They’ve completely reimagined business support by mixing smart digital tools with real human expertise to give founders personalised guidance at exactly the right time.”
