Vacancies

We have an exciting opportunity for an experienced Relationship Manager from a Business or Commercial Banking or SME lending background to join a team for a debt fund dedicated to the Yorkshire & Humber Region.

You will be responsible for origination, appraisal, and execution of loans to growing and innovative SME’s, from £25k to £250k. The debt fund was established to provide funding to scale up businesses which struggle to secure debt finance particularly new fast-growing companies which are too young to have a credit history.

Whilst the fund covers the whole of Yorkshire and Humber region, we require the successful applicant to be based in West Yorkshire. They should have an existing network of introducer  contacts in this area, and there is a requirement to be in the stakeholders Barnsley office one day a week.

You will be expected to:

  • build a pipeline of suitable lending opportunities, grow your existing network of introducers, and marketing 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 the independent credit committee
  • 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, monitoring performance and identifying early potential default situations.
  • contribute to periodic stakeholder fund reporting.

Skills & Experience

You should demonstrate:

  • significant prior experience in lending to SMEs where primary repayment source is future cashflow generation based on planned expansion
  • strong ability to assess and structure loan propositions based on future business plans
  • an established network of professional introduces in the West Yorkshire area
  • 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 on Microsoft Office 365
  • a diligent working style and experience using CRM systems to manage & track proposal activities.

What we offer:

  • A competitive base salary commensurate with your experience
  • 25 days annual leave plus usual Bank holidays in England & Wales. You also get your birthday off and one day for a volunteering purpose.
  • 8% contribution to employer pension scheme,
  • Private medical scheme (50% employer contribution to premium)
  • Death in Service benefit equivalent to 4x salary.
  • Health Cash plan scheme
  • Income protection – covers up to 50% of salary for 2 years in event of long term illness/inability to work

About The FSE Group:

Our primary goal is 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 £325m of debt and equity funds under management, the Group is continuing to grow and prides itself on taking a holistic approach to the funding needs of our clients. For more information see www.thefsegroup.com

Full-time, but open to requests for part time of 4 days per week minimum on a pro rata basis.  

Strictly no agencies.

You must have unrestricted access to work in the UK

Please apply through the Linkedin advert here.

News

Following initial investment in 2022, Clothes Doctor, leader in premium eco-friendly laundry care products, has secured a £500,000 follow-on equity from the Cornwall & Isles of Scilly Investment Fund (CIOSIF). The funding comes via appointed Fund Manager, The FSE Group, as part of a £1 million round that includes funding from private investors.  

The investment aims to fuel the company's global expansion and further its commitment to sustainable innovation, creating several new jobs across the business. 

Founded in 2017, Clothes Doctor has grown rapidly with its range of plastic-free, palm oil-free, and vegan-friendly laundry care products. With more than 100,000 customers and 190 high-end wholesale clients across 65 countries in five continents, the company has positioned itself as a frontrunner at the premium end of the £106 billion global clothing care market. 

With its biodegradable, Made in Britain formulations, Clothes Doctor products can be used as an alternative to expensive and time-consuming dry cleaning. The decision to use aluminium containers, which are lighter and more recyclable than plastic, further underscores their commitment to sustainable production.  

Lulu O’Connor, Clothes Doctor Founder and CEO, said: " This investment marks a pivotal moment for Clothes Doctor. With FSE's support, we're not just expanding our reach; we're redefining eco-friendly laundry care on a global scale. Our innovative products, such as our 'spritz' line and our renowned wool and cashmere detergents, are setting new standards in the industry. We're committed to continual innovation and sustainability, and this funding will propel us into new markets and opportunities." 

The latest funding follows a £500,000 CIOSIF investment from FSE in 2022, since which, Clothes Doctor has seen a 300% increase in revenue. Although CIOSIF is closed to new investees, the fund managers are able to support businesses that have previously benefited from the fund. 

Meg Salt, FSE Investment Manager, commented: " We are incredibly impressed by the strides Clothes Doctor has made and our continued investment reflects our confidence in their innovative products and strategic vision. Lulu is a collaborative, forward-thinking founder and under her leadership the company has shown remarkable growth. This is a fantastic opportunity to further support a strong management team in a highly-scalable business and we are excited to continue to work with Clothes Doctor as they expand their global footprint." 

As Clothes Doctor looks to the future, this investment will not only support its expansion into new markets but also reinforce its position as a leader in sustainable laundry care. The company remains committed to delivering premium quality, innovative products with a focus on eco-credentials and exceptional customer care. 

Funding through CIOSIF came to an end for new investees in December 2023 but wider funding is now available through the British Business Bank’s £200m South West Investment Fund providing loans from £25k to £2m and equity investment up to £5m. 

CIOSIF has been 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 2014-2020. 

News

Ayrshire-based Ailsa Reliability Solutions has successfully secured a £500,000 loan from the British Business Bank’s Investment Fund for Scotland via appointed fund manager, The FSE Group. The funding will enable the company to expand its workforce, enhance software capabilities, and meet the growing demand for its state-of-the-art asset and plant monitoring services.

Ailsa Reliability Solutions has rapidly established itself as a multi-award-winning provider of bespoke connected solutions that enable engineers to monitor the condition of equipment and machinery, improving reliability and predictive maintenance. Operating across sectors such as oil & gas, pharmaceuticals, manufacturing, and renewable energy, Ailsa Reliability has helped clients achieve substantial savings by reducing unplanned downtime, increasing operational efficiencies and reducing wasted energy.

With plans to create 10 high-quality new jobs and invest in software development, the funding will enable Ailsa Reliability to boost operational capacity and capitalise on increased customer interest.

Jamie Burns, Founder and Managing Director of Ailsa Reliability Solutions, said: “We are delighted to receive this investment, which will help drive the company towards our vision of becoming a globally recognised brand for helping clients save money and become more planet positive in their operations. As an early-stage business it is refreshing to find a lender that is able to focus on our significant potential for growth, helping us grow our team and continue delivering through innovation and client-centric solutions.”

Jim Pritchard, Investment Manager at The FSE Group, commented: "Ailsa Reliability’s robust pipeline coupled with its understanding of the market and clear vision for the future, presented a compelling case for investment. We are excited to support the team’s expansion plans, which are built on solid financial forecasts and a proven track record of delivering significant savings and efficiencies to their clients.”

Since its inception in September 2020 Ailsa Reliability has consistently delivered impressive results for its blue-chip clients, including reducing reliability related failures by up to 80%, generating savings of over £20 million in plant downtime, contributing to the reduction of over 2000 tonnes of CO2 emissions and helping to generate 40GW of green energy. With a strong pipeline of business from new and repeat customers, Ailsa Reliability is poised to continue its trajectory of growth and innovation, solidifying a position as a leader in its sector.

Sarah Newbould, Senior Investment Manager, Nations and Regions Investment Funds, at the British Business Bank, said: “Scotland has a proud history of engineering and manufacturing, with next generation connected technology playing an important role in future proofing the sector. The Investment Fund for Scotland was established to help entrepreneurs all over Scotland access the funding they require to develop and thrive, and Ailsa Reliability Solutions is in a great position to support firms to save energy and minimise downtime.”

The purpose of the Investment fund for Scotland is to drive sustainable economic growth by supporting innovation and creating local opportunity for new and growing businesses across Scotland. The fund will increase the supply and diversity of early-stage finance for smaller businesses, providing funds to firms that might otherwise not receive investment and help to break down barriers in access to finance.

News

SportsPro, an Edinburgh-based provider of pro and amateur sportswear, has secured a £750,000 growth loan from the British Business Bank’s Investment Fund for Scotland, via appointed Fund Manager, The FSE Group.  

The funding will enhance SportsPro's brand development, marketing efforts, and operational capacity while supporting the creation of six new roles within the company. 

SportsPro designs and manufactures sportswear, training apparel and team wear for professional sports clubs, players and athletes as well as local sports teams, junior teams and sports fans. 

The company boasts a diverse portfolio of owned and licensed brands, including the iconic Hummel, which provides kit to a portfolio of professional sports teams for both club use and sale to fans. Its commercial partnerships include top football clubs such as Sunderland FC, Coventry City FC, Kilmarnock FC and Wycombe Wanderers FC, as well as associations with organisations in rugby, netball, and esports. 

Ian Russell, Executive Director of SportsPro, said: “This Investment Fund for Scotland loan is testament to our strong trading performance since launching just three years ago, and highlights our potential to scale operations significantly over the next twelve months. The funding enables us to expand our reach in the grassroots community sports market as well as in female sports wear, and we look forward to working with The FSE Group as we grow.” 

With a sportwear market worth £15billion and over 43,000 grassroots football clubs, the UK alone presents a significant opportunity for SportsPro to expand its reach. Whilst continuing its growth across professional teams, the company also aims to strengthen its digital sales channels and develop new sports fashion apparel ranges, including retro strips for football and rugby. 

Dave Young, Investment Manager at The FSE Group, added: “As UK licence holder for Hummel, one of the oldest and most iconic sports brands in the world, SportsPro is well-positioned to expand its support to both professional and community sports teams across the UK in the years ahead. The funding will allow SportsPro to accelerate its growth plans, increase its operational capacity, and further develop its range of offerings across the team and individual sportswear marketplaces.” 

Sarah Newbould, Senior Investment Manager, Nations & Regions Investment Funds, at the British Business Bank, said: “SportsPro has ambitious expansion plans. It is an exciting business in a sector with huge prospects, which is exactly the type of opportunity we are looking to support through the Investment Fund for Scotland. We would encourage any other businesses in Scotland looking for financial support to realise their potential to explore the range of options the fund offers and kick off their plans for growth.”  

The purpose of the Investment fund for Scotland is to drive sustainable economic growth by supporting innovation and creating local opportunity for new and growing businesses across Scotland. The fund will increase the supply and diversity of early-stage finance for smaller businesses, providing funds to firms that might otherwise not receive investment and help to break down barriers in access to finance.  

News

Health and Care Innovations (HCI) has secured a £375,000 equity investment from the British Business Banks South West Investment Fund via appointed Fund Manager, The FSE Group.

As part of an £880,000 funding round, the investment will drive the growth of HCIs CONNECTPlus digital health platform and healthcare video library to help manage patient care.

HCI is already working with over 10% of NHS acute trusts, with ICBs and with Mater Hospital in Ireland and Castilla La Mancha and Catalonia in Spain, educating and supporting patients at home so that they can self-manage their conditions more confidently and reduce demand on the health system.

This reduces the number and length of appointments and calls in order to reduce elective care waiting lists and outpatient appointments and focus resources on the patients with the greatest need. As the world grapples with the growing demands of multimorbidity, HCI's integrated approach offers a singular platform for managing multiple conditions and treatments that simplifies life both for patients and health systems. 

CONNECTPlus addresses the needs of "the whole patient," supporting over 70 conditions already, plus remote monitoring tools and digital pathways of care. Alongside, their health and care video library offers over 1,000 patient-facing videos, providing patients with the vital information and education needed to manage their conditions effectively at home.

The ability to deliver in multiple languages means that the challenges around equality and diversity can be easily addressed.

Richard Wyatt-Haines, CEO and Founder of HCI, said: "We too often see people undergoing treatment or suffering from conditions they don't understand, which increases their anxiety. It also increases the demands they make on the health systems and services around them. It's not fair, and it's not necessary. There's so much more that can be done to help both patients and healthcare workers. HCI is here to do that. Our comprehensive solution empowers patients to take an active role in managing their health and we are delighted to receive this investment, which will enable us to expand our reach, to both healthcare providers and patients in need.”

Ralph Singleton, Head of Equity South West at The FSE Group, commented: "HCI's client base already includes over 20 NHS organisations, multi-national insurance companies, and hospitals in European territories. With an experienced team well-versed in NHS program delivery and a robust and adaptable solution for complex healthcare challenges, HCI is well-positioned to lead the charge in transforming healthcare delivery. We are thrilled to support the team in their journey to innovate patient care."

Jody Tableporter from the British Business Bank said: "The South West Investment Fund was established to support ambitious and innovative businesses like HCI that are harnessing technology to scale their own operations and deliver even greater impact. By investing in HCI’s CONNECTPlus platform, the fund is backing a business that aims to transform patient care, improve efficiency within the healthcare system, and enhance support for both patients and healthcare providers. We look forward to seeing the positive impact of this investment."

Richard Wyatt-Haines added that CONNECTPlus delivers improved quality of care and quality of life for patients, reduced costs and demand on healthcare providers, increased productivity and improved work experience for clinicians and admin teams, as well as increasing overall capacity within health organisations.

The purpose of the South West Investment Fund is to drive sustainable economic growth by supporting innovation and creating local opportunity for new and growing businesses across the South West. It offers a range of commercial finance options with smaller loans from £25k to £100k, debt finance from £100k to £2m and equity investment up to £5 million.

The fund is increasing the supply and diversity of early-stage finance for South West smaller businesses, providing funds to firms that might otherwise not receive investment and helping to break down barriers in access to finance.