New one-stop shop simplifies access to funding for UK businesses
An innovative new service designed to help UK business owners navigate the funding landscape in an increasingly challenging climate has been unveiled by specialist providers of business support, finance and funding, UMi.
Since 2007, UMi has helped business owners to access more than £325m in grants and loans, leveraging more than £640m in private sector investment both directly and through the support and funding programmes they’ve managed.
Get Funding brings together the knowledge and expertise to offer tailored support through a streamlined one-stop shop approach, helping businesses access grants, finance, and investments best suited to their needs. Recent survey results published by the British Business Bank found that 60% of SMEs struggle to identify where to find the finance they need. The aim of this service is to address that issue, improving accessibility to finance for any business in need of it.
Currently, business owners looking for funding or finance need to navigate multiple funding avenues and advice channels, often not knowing what they are eligible for or what else is available to them. This process can be overwhelming and time consuming, so UMi is taking steps to create a more seamless approach to funding. Addressing this gap gives UK business owners the opportunity to receive customised expertise on how to access finance and advice on innovation and growth strategies from a dedicated business funding adviser equipped to understand individual business pinch points.
With a human-led, digitally supported approach, dedicated business funding advisers can help each business understand the full range of options available and secure the best solution for them from more than 400 grant schemes, over 180 finance providers and a UK-wide investment network.
UMi’s team of business experts has also started a Get Funding Webinar Series to coincide with the launch. Running from 21st January – 15th April 2025, the series will make it easier for business owners looking for practical growth solutions, giving them the chance to gain an understanding of what funding options are available, how they work and how to access the resources needed to achieve their business goals.
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.”
More details about each webinar series and how to sign up can be found here and more details about the Get Funding service can be found here.