New one-stop shop simplifies funding access for North East businesses

Since 2007, UMi has helped businesses secure over £325 million in grants and loans and leveraged more than £640 million in private sector investment through their programmes.

Their new service, Get Funding, acts as a one-stop shop, providing tailored support to help businesses identify and access grants, loans, and investments that best fit their needs.

A survey by the British Business Bank revealed 60 percent of SMEs struggle to identify funding opportunities. UMi’s new service aims to address this issue by offering businesses access to: over 400 grant schemes; more than 180 finance providers; and a UK-wide investment network.

Nicki Clark OBE, CEO at UMi, said:  Finding and securing the right funding to help sustain or grow your business can be difficult. We are really excited to bring together our own expertise and that of specialist partners to make a material difference in this space. More of the same isn’t going to work so, as you would expect from UMi, we are doing things a little differently and importantly, in a way that respects every business is unique and knowing that the difference the right funding can make to a business isn’t measured by the amount of funding secured. We deliver the same care and diligence regardless of how big or how small the funding gap is.”

Julie Cuthbertson, Business Funding Director at UMi, said:  “What we’ve found is that business owners often feel like trying to access the financial support they need to thrive is a hurdle too large to even try and tackle, but that shouldn’t be the case. It’s vital to reach out and get support. There are a variety of fantastic initiatives across the UK that help towards the cost of improving or growing your business. Get Funding will provide us with access to the right people which will play a pivotal role in shaping the economic growth we all want to see.

“Tailored financial solutions paired with targeted financial guidance can truly make a difference and I’m excited about the opportunities that Get Funding will bring to the region.”

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