Vacancies

We have an exciting opportunity for an experienced Business Development or Relationship Manager from a Business or Commercial Banking or SME lending background for a new Debt Fund that is being created to cover the counties of Devon, Cornwall, Dorset & Somerset. We welcome applications from someone based in this area who ideally has professional networks in those counties.

The new Fund is designed to finance growth.   The business lending is “market gap” which would not be provided by a Bank or other non-Bank lenders (e.g. fits outside of their risk appetite / policies) - looking at business plans and spend required to help the business grow (e.g. they are expanding organically and / or won a new contract).  It is genuine unsecured cashflow lending for growth.  Our aim is to also increase the probability of success of those businesses, with our “more than money” support with the focus on strong relationship management.

You will be responsible for origination, appraisal, and execution of loans to growing and innovative SME’s, up to £2m.

You will be expected to:

  • be a self-driven, active member of the investment team with a genuine passion for working with SMEs to achieve their growth ambitions
  • build a pipeline of suitable lending opportunities, develop relationships with introducers, and market the product to appropriate audiences
  • carry out evaluation and due diligence on suitable proposals in line with the Fund’s lending policy and operational guidelines
  • Present proposals to an independent credit committee for approval
  • manage completion matters post approval including completion of facility documentation
  • work alongside company solicitors to ensure all security requirements are met
  • pro-actively manage client portfolio, work with those businesses to achieve growth, monitoring performance and identifying early potential default situations
  • contribute to stakeholder reporting

Desired skills & experience

The ideal candidate will have:

  • prior experience in lending to SMEs and client relationship management with a strong ability to assess and structure loan propositions on a projection led basis.
  • a professional network in the areas defined (advantageous)
  • ability to multi-task and prioritise deadlines to meet customer expectations.
  • good presentation skills & ability to communicate and interact at all levels of management.
  • a high level of IT proficiency, particularly with Microsoft Office 365 products.
  • a diligent working style and experience using CRM systems to manage & track proposal activities.

The role is primarily home based with team meet ups in the Exeter area. Access to a good quality/speed home internet is a must.

What we offer:

  • A competitive base salary commensurate with your experience.
  • 25 days annual leave plus usual Bank holidays in England & Wales. You will also get your birthday off.
  • Ability for you to use 1 day for Corporate Social Responsibility purposes annually.
  • 5% employer contribution to pension scheme, subject to minimum 3% contribution from employee.
  • Death in Service benefit equivalent to 4x salary.
  • Income protection and health cash plan scheme paid for, with 50% funded private medical scheme.

About The FSE Group:

For 20 years our primary goal has been to provide tailored funding solutions and support for ambitious and innovative small and medium enterprises (SMEs), to help them achieve their maximum potential. With over £300m of debt and equity funds under management, the Group is continuing to grow and prides itself on taking an integrated approach to the funding needs of our clients.

Our Purpose

With a passion for, and successful history in, managing and deploying market gap funds with an economic impact purpose, we focus on more than pure commercial return to support the growth of SMEs. We promote diversity. We support underrepresented geographies. We are insightful in determining how we can improve an evolving funding landscape and we stimulate sustainability by successfully recycling smaller funds. We are more than money.

The core values we live by as FSE employees are Collaboration, Innovation, Inclusivity, Sustainability and Delivery.

With one of our core values being inclusivity, we are committed to a diverse and inclusive team. We are an equal opportunity employer and treat all applications fairly and welcome job applicants from all communities and affinity groups.

All applicants must live and have the right to work in the UK.

Job Type: Full-time, however we would consider 4 days a week on pro rata salary.

To apply, please email your CV and Covering Letter to: HR@thefsegroup.com

If you would like an informal chat about the role, please call Tim Williams on 07534 379396.

News

Master Systems Integrator Vanti is set to continue its ambitious growth plans by securing funding worth £1.5m from the Midlands Engine Investment Fund (MEIF), provided by The FSE Group Debt Finance Fund and backed by the Recovery Loan Scheme.

The business has secured a loan facility which will be used to grow its team by 50% to around 75 employees by the end of October, make improvements to its Birmingham HQ and invest in systems across the business to help deliver its growth strategy.

Vanti specialises in integrating technology and delivering exciting digital experiences within buildings and spaces. This ranges from installing bespoke cinema rooms and meeting spaces to delivering all the technology present in large commercial buildings.

It is currently helping to deliver Birmingham's first smart-enabled buildings at One Centenary Way, part of the £1.2bn Paradise development, and the £30m Enterprise Wharf development which is being delivered at the Innovation Birmingham Campus. It also has a pipeline of cutting-edge building and fitout projects in the future.

Vanti also works across the UK with several internationally recognised organisations such as Informa, Citigroup and Tottenham Hotspur FC. It has also recently been awarded B Corp certification, joining businesses globally to tackle some of society's biggest challenges, and is on a mission to help other companies and the wider construction and technology industries to commit to tackling its ESG targets. 

Finance Director at Vanti, Alastair Prince, said: "We are thrilled to have partnered with FSE to assist with our growth plans at Vanti. By spending the last few years defining and carving out the role of an MSI in the Smart Building industry, we've reached the perfect moment to supercharge our plans for the future.    

"Being able to secure funding to this value considering the current financial climate is a huge achievement and shows the confidence investors have in the USP offering that Vanti provides our growth plans and the future vision and ambition we have for Vanti.

"Alongside this secured funding we're also actively working on pursuing investment - we're talking to several interested parties looking to join us on our journey and we're planning to grow our team by over 50% by the end of the year. It's incredibly exciting to be part of Vanti."

Ryan Cartwright, Investment Manager at The FSE Group, said: "Vanti is a hugely ambitious business which has shown a real specialism for integrating technology into the built environment while also developing an extremely successful business. We hope these funds help Vanti continue its growth and we're excited to see where the journey takes them."

Mark Wilcockson, Senior Investment Manager, at the British Business Bank, said: “The Midlands Engine Investment Fund backs innovative SMEs businesses in the Midlands with growth potential and expansion plans. This investment for Birmingham based Vanti will contribute to the growth of the businesses, as well as the wider local economy through the creation of 75 job roles and through the company’s growing work with major projects for the region.”  

The Midlands Engine Investment Fund project is supported financially by the European Union using funding from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) as part of the European Structural and Investment Funds Growth Programme 2014-2022 and the European Investment Bank. The FSE Group manages a section of MEIF that provides investments between £100,000 and £1.5 million to support growing SMEs across the region. For more information visit: www.thefsegroup.com/fund/midlands-engine-investment-fund-debt-finance.

News

Wokingham-based HR rewards and recognition platform, Each Person, is the latest company to be supported by the Thames Valley Berkshire Funding Escalator. The company has secured a £500,000 growth loan which will support continued software development and enable the recruitment of 7 local hires in 2023.

Each Person is a leading employee engagement platform which combines the latest technology with behavioural science to help businesses build and maintain engaged and motivated workforces.

The company offers a range of features designed to foster a positive workplace culture and improve employee engagement. These include customised surveys, interactive dashboards, and a range of tools to help businesses measure and track employee engagement levels over time. The rewards offered to employees are sourced from leading high street and online retailers and Each Person is proud to be the first reward platform to offer a Diesel Card which can save employees £200-£300 per year off their diesel bill.

Ensuring people feel recognised for their hard work and talent is vital, especially when recent statistics show that regular recognition lowers staff turnover by 31%.

Matt Norbury, CEO at Each Person, said, Our mission is to help organisations create highly engaged, motivated and productive workplaces by enabling employers to recognise and reward their people through providing perks at work. A free coffee now and again is okay, but a rewards platform that provides benefits for people’s mental, physical and financial wellbeing whilst also battling climate change is something that really will make a difference to workplace culture. We’re determined to make Each Person respond to the needs of the time which is why we plant a tree for every employee that joins our scheme, give a percentage of our profits to eco projects, and why we are incredibly proud to be the first HR tool to offer a Fuel Card as part of our package. This latest funding will help us continue to push our business forward as we expand and take on even more clients.”

John Gaudoin, Investment Manager at The FSE Group added, “Each Person is an impressive company with a strong leadership team who have already signed major clients such as the NHS, Virgin Active, BUPA, American Golf and Prezzo. They have been cited independently as being transformational for clients and it’s easy to see why when viewing the quantity and quality of what is offered to employees. The FSE Group is delighted to support Each Person as they hire local talent and expand their reach within the HR sector. We wish them the very best of luck with what will surely be an exciting year ahead.”

The Thames Valley Berkshire Funding Escalator is an £11.3m initiative funded by Berkshire LEP. The escalator, includes a Trade Finance Loan Scheme and an Expansion Loan Scheme, providing eligible companies with business loans between £50,000 and £500,000 for activities that will deliver high-growth and employment opportunities.

News

An accountancy firm in Camberley has secured a £300,000 loan from the Enterprise M3 (EM3) Funding Escalator, managed by The FSE Group on behalf of EM3 LEP, to support expansion of the business.

Stewart & Co was established in 1958 and provides a range of financial services to individuals and businesses across the Home Counties. These include bookkeeping, cloud accounting, audit, taxation and wealth management. The loan will support the acquisition of another accountancy practice, including the funding of new hires and working capital needed to service the expanded client base.

Stewart & Co Managing Partner, David Hartley, said: “As a company that works to support other small businesses with their growth strategies, we are well-versed in the funding streams available and this EM3 loan is a great fit for us. Our dedicated FSE Investment Manager understood the proposal from the get-go and was able to offer this market-gap funding where traditional high-street banks could not. We are delighted to be able to now move forward with plans to grow the business further, creating new jobs in the process.”

FSE Investment Manager, Simon Blackbourn, added: “As a financial services provider, Stewart & Co doesn’t fit our usual customer profile but we could see there was an opportunity for business growth that would benefit the EM3 region. With a strong reputation in the local area, high levels of client referrals and a track record of successfully acquiring and integrating smaller accounting firms, the management team is well-placed to maximise this latest expansion opportunity.”

Sue Littlemore, Joint Managing Director at the Enterprise M3 LEP, said: “We are delighted to see Stewart & Co secure its EM3 Funding Escalator loan, which will allow the firm to accelerate its growth plans while securing and creating more jobs. This in turn will help boost the services they offer to help other small businesses develop and grow in our region. We wish David and his team well as Stewart & Co go from strength to strength.”

The Enterprise M3 Funding Escalator is a £10million initiative funded by Enterprise M3 LEP. The escalator includes an expansion loan scheme, a short-term trade loan scheme and an equity growth fund and provides eligible companies with loans and equity funding between £50,000 and £500,000 for activities that will deliver high-growth and employment opportunities across the EM3 area.

News

A provider of digitally enabled pharmacy solutions to care homes across the UK has received further funding from the Midlands Engine Investment Fund (MEIF), provided by The FSE Group Debt Finance Fund and backed by the Recovery Loan Scheme.

Following significant scaling up of the business since its first MEIF loan in 2021, Remedi Solutions has secured an additional £800,000 in MEIF investment to help boost further growth. The latest funding will be used for IT infrastructure development, premises refurbishment and equipment purchase.

Remedi is transforming care home medicine management by offering a service that dispenses and supplies repeat prescription medicines from an automated hub. Its electronic barcoding solution gives full traceability of prescriptions of medicines from the pharmacy through to the end-user      care home resident, removing the workload and error potential of the prevailing paper-based system.

Kenny Black, Remedi Solutions CEO, said: “This support from the MEIF is enabling us to fast-track our growth and continue to roll out our game-changing solutions to more care homes across the UK, resulting in better quality of care. FSE is continuing to invest in our potential, despite being an early-stage business with limited track-record and we are delighted to be working with them as we continue to grow.”

There are over 500,000 care home residents in the UK and an ageing population means this figure is set to grow substantially over the next decade. Remedi’s simple and efficient one size fits all platform will be invaluable across this largely unintegrated sector.     

Harriet Saunders, Investment Manager at The FSE Group, added: “Remedi first came to us having developed an innovative solution that was ready to launch. Over the last two years, the team has already onboarded 200 care homes servicing over 8,000 residents. We are thrilled to see this progress since we provided the first MEIF loan and look forward to supporting the team further as they seek to modernise processes across the care and pharmacy sectors.”

Mark Wilcockson, Senior Investment Manager at the British Business Bank, said: “The MEIF supports sustainable and innovative SMEs in the Midlands – this follow-on funding for Remedi Solutions will continue to drive growth for the company to increase its capacity through new equipment and investment into infrastructure. We look forward to seeing how the funding will boost Remedi Solutions in its growth plans as it reaches the next stage of expansion.”

The Midlands Engine Investment Fund project is supported financially by the European Union using funding from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) as part of the European Structural and Investment Funds Growth Programme 2014-2022 and the European Investment Bank. The FSE Group manages a section of MEIF that provides investments between £100,000 and £1.5 million to support growing SMEs across the region. For more information visit: www.thefsegroup.com/fund/midlands-engine-investment-fund-debt-finance.