UMi unlocks £1billion in investment for UK businesses including growth for Welsh firms

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 Wales.

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 North Wales, UMi has recently helped launch the region’s Clean Energy Fund, a £24.6m flagship Growth Deal project led by Ambition North Wales. The fund is designed to unlock £100m investment and 150 new jobs, with UMi delivering a £15m private sector finance pot. This will enable North Wales businesses to access repayable loans from £25,000 to £2m, supporting projects that reduce carbon emissions, create jobs and attract matched-funding investment.

Meghan Davies, Energy and Net Zero Project Manager at Ambition North Wales, the organisation delivering the Growth Deal, commented: “We’re delighted to be working with UMi to manage and deliver the commercial loan element of our new Clean Energy Fund. They bring a wealth of experience in successfully running funds of this kind and have a proven track record of creating real impact for businesses and communities.

“This fantastic £1bn milestone is strong evidence of the difference UMi makes, not only helping to unlock investment on a national level, but also in generating lasting benefits closer to home which will help us simulate jobs, growth, and opportunities across the region.

“The fund will act as a catalyst, enabling green energy projects to be set in motion and help to unlock private and community investment. This will make a huge and positive difference to North Wales.”

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 and 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.