Our UK Startup Week festival sponsor, UMi, has launched an innovative new service to help UK business owners navigate the funding landscape called ‘Get Funding‘.
The aim of the ‘Get Funding‘ service is to improve accessibility to finance for any business in need of it. Currently, business owners looking for funding or finance need to navigate multiple funding avenues & advice channels, often not knowing what they are eligible for or what else is available to them.
Recent survey results published by the British Business Bank found that 60% of SMEs (small & medium-sized enterprises) struggle to identify where to find the finance they need. This process can be overwhelming & time consuming, so UMi is taking steps to create a more seamless approach to funding.
Addressing this funding gap gives UK business owners the opportunity to receive customised expertise on how to access finance & advice on innovation & 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 & secure the best solution for them from more than 400 grant schemes, over 180 finance providers & a UK-wide investment network.
Who are UMi?
Since 2007, UMi has helped business owners access more than £325m in grants & loans, leveraging more than £640M in private sector investment both directly & through the support & funding programmes they’ve managed. The ‘Get Funding‘ service brings together the knowledge & expertise to offer tailored support through a streamlined one-stop shop approach, helping businesses access grants, finance & investments best suited to their needs.
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 & how to access the resources needed to achieve their business goals.
Nicki Clark OBE (CEO, UMi) said: “Finding & securing the right funding to help sustain or grow your business can be difficult. We are really excited to bring together our own expertise & 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 & importantly, in a way that respects every business is unique & 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 & diligence regardless of how big or how small the funding gap is.”
Julie Cuthbertson (Business Funding Director, UMi Get Funding) 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 & tackle but that shouldn’t be the case. It’s vital to reach out & 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.”
Want to know more?
More details about the ‘Get Funding’ service can be found here. In addition, details of each webinar & how to sign up can be found here.
UMi’s ‘Get Funding’ team & specialist business advisers will also be on hand & speaking at our ‘UK Startup Week’ festival in Sunderland on 2-6 June 2025 (find out more & get your ticket at ukstartupweek.com/startupweek/).
Julie Cuthbertson (Business Funding Director, UMi Get Funding) added: “We’re thrilled to be sponsoring the upcoming UK Startup Week festival & supporting the incredible community of entrepreneurs driving innovation & growth across the UK. At UMi, we know that access to the right funding at the right time can be game-changing & that’s why we’re excited to showcase how we can support businesses to go further. Whether businesses need grants, investment or tailored finance solutions, we’re here to help them take the next step with confidence.”