Tees Valley SMEs Urged to Secure Investment Support Before Deadline
Tees Valley based SMEs with ambitions to grow are being invited to join a fully funded programme aimed at supporting business owners with access to finance. Tees Valley Securing Investment directly connects organisations with grants, funds and private investors, aiming to address the long-standing barriers faced by the region’s businesses in accessing money.
Tees Valley Securing Investment offers one-to-one support, workshops, online training and an investor hub to SMEs and socially trading enterprises operating across Darlington, Hartlepool, Middlesbrough, Redcar & Cleveland and Stockton-On-Tees, giving them the opportunity to build better relationships with both existing and potential investors. Current funding for this round of the programme will end in March 2025.
168 businesses, 37 of which are led by women, have received mentoring support from Tees Valley Securing Investment since its inception in February 2024, with most going on to scale-up as a result of improving their processes, bidding for new contracts and bringing new products or services to market.
This support is part of the Tees Valley Securing Investment Programme, funded by the UK Government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund and delivered on behalf of the Tees Valley Mayor and Combined Authority by Innovation SuperNetwork, powered by UMi.
Former engineer, Louise Cooper, was one of the first to access support for her business, UGlow, a self-tanning brand with a unique formula that provides a safe and convenient alternative to traditional self-tanning lotions, sunbeds or over exposure to the sun.
Louise Cooper, said:
“I first heard about Tees Valley Securing Investment when I joined the Tees Valley Supply Chain programme through RTC North with the plan of scaling up my business. That’s when I was introduced to my fantastic mentor, Gary Lynch, who has been an incredible support. Securing investment has been one of the most challenging aspects of growing my business, especially as a female entrepreneur. The introductions Gary has facilitated for the next steps of uGlow’s growth has opened new opportunities and connections that I wouldn’t have had access to otherwise.
“Getting insights from Gary has been instrumental in making my business thrive and has given me the confidence to effectively communicate uGlow’s value to potential investors. I now have a clear plan for how the business will grow, when and where to seek investment, and, most importantly, the right type of investment to align with each stage of our growth strategy.”
Another early applicant was Dr. Manoj Krishna, Founder of Happier Me, a personal development app that gives people access to the tools they need to manage their mental health.
Dr. Manoj Krishna, said:
“Gary is great at what he does and knows exactly what investors are looking for. Since joining the programme, we have been given the tools to sharpen up our pitch deck which has already put us in front of investors and helped broaden our network. As a trusted partner for SMEs like Happier Me, I strongly recommend other businesses in the region to sign up as it is a great opportunity to collaborate with someone who understands the unique needs of your business, providing a strong foundation to prove your value and attract investors.”
Commenting on the Tees Valley Securing Investment programme, mentor, Gary Lynch, said:
“Having supported over 160 businesses in Tees Valley, we have an in-depth understanding of the various challenges local businesses face in accessing investment. Our role is to tailor support for each business so that they can get to grips with exactly what they need to effectively appeal to potential investors. The support offered on this programme is extensive, covering everything from financial planning and forecasting to investment strategy development, setting participants on a pathway to securing the right funding or investment for their business.
“It is great to see the positive impact the programme has had on two local businesses, both of which act as a blueprint for other dynamic SMEs in Tees Valley with aspirations to grow. I’d encourage any organisation in the region to get in touch, no matter what stage of growth or sector.”
Tees Valley Mayor Ben Houchen said:
"Small businesses play a vital role in driving our local economy forward but we know it can be difficult for people running their own firm to get the right help to support their expansion.
"This is why programmes such as Securing Investment are so important. We want our local entrepreneurs to succeed and it's great to see such a fantastic example of how our support is helping business thrive."
Click here to enquire about the Tees Valley Securing Investment programme.