ENTERPRISE LOANS INVESTS £2 MILLION INTO LOCAL ECONOMY
BUSINESS support and funding provider Enterprise Loans East Midlands (ELEM) has invested more than £2 million pounds into the economy after being awarded its largest ever funding pot by the British Business Bank last year.
Enterprise Loans successfully won a competitive tender for the Midlands Engine Investment Fund (MEIF) – delivered by the British Business Bank – to provide loans of between £25,000 to £150,000 to support the growth ambitions of businesses across the East and South East Midlands region.
Since September 2017 the ethical loan provider has lent £1,172,500 from the MEIF and £967,500 from ELEM funding, resulting in an impressive £2,140,000 being pumped into the local economy. This funding has supported 26 businesses and created or safeguarded 231 jobs.
Quammar Zamman, CEO at Enterprise Loans, said: “Thanks to the MEIF funding we’ve been able to support even more fantastic businesses and budding entrepreneurs across a number of sectors. Small businesses are the backbone of this country and we’re passionate about helping people to grow and develop their companies.
“It’s more apparent than ever that Midlands’ businesses need support to flourish. Whether they need funding and advice or help getting started, investing in new premises or equipment, we are here to support them.”
Grant Peggie, director at British Business Bank, commented: “We’re delighted to see Enterprise Loans reach this milestone figure of investments made, successfully deploying small business loans across the East and South East Midlands. Increasing the opportunities available to smaller businesses looking to scale-up is exactly what the fund was set up to do and we would encourage other small growing businesses to consider applying for funding.”
One business recently supported by Enterprise Loans and the MEIF is Olberon Medical Innovation, a Nottingham based firm founded in 2005 by a practicing doctor who spotted a gap in the market for specialist medical devices.
Dr Arash Bakhtyari, founder of Olberon Medical, said: “As a doctor, I found many common tasks quite challenging with the available equipment and I wanted to create solutions to solve these difficulties.
“We received a loan of £100,000 which has supported the manufacturing of a new product called the Vacuderm™ and also allowed us to go to market. We have also been able to send samples to distributors worldwide and now have 25 on board who will bring our products to the intended end user – hospitals.”
The MEIF project is supported financially by the European Union using funding from the ERDF as part of the European Structural and Investment Funds Growth Programme 2014-2020 and the European Investment Bank.
For more information on Enterprise Loans visit www.first-enterprise.co.uk or follow @1st_Enterprise on Twitter. For further information on the MEIF please visit www.meif.co.uk or follow @MidsEngInv.
