A leading sustainable home and personal care product brand has secured equity funding from the British Business Bank’s South West Investment Fund. The investment comes via appointed Fund Manager, The FSE Group, and takes Bower’s total funds now raised through multiple funding rounds to £6.6million.  

A certified B Corp based in the South West, Bower is on a mission to eliminate household plastic waste through its innovative circular economy business model. Bower develops outstanding natural products like household cleaning sprays, hand wash, laundry liquid, body wash and washing up liquid supplied in a reusable pouch that is refilled for the next customer, encouraging repeat purchase and the consistent use of reusable products. 

This innovative packaging solution, BowerPack™, was developed with Innovate UK funding and is designed for ease of use, refilling, and returning. The pouches incorporate digital tracking via QR codes, which allow customers to view how many times a pouch is refilled, ensuring accountability and transparency for end users. 

Alongside strengthening the company’s existing subscription model via its website, the funding will aid investment into product innovation and expansion of B2B channels, as well as physical retail presence through partnerships with independent retailers and supermarkets. 

Nick Torday, co-founder and CEO of Bower Collective, said: "We’re delighted to receive this investment, which will enable us to enhance our operational efficiency, continue to grow our digital subscription business and expand our B2B channel growth. Our mission to eliminate plastic waste is more urgent than ever and, with this support, we’re well set to scale our impact even further”. 

Matt Browning, Investment Manager at The FSE Group, commented: "Bower’s management team has shown exceptional innovation and commitment to sustainability, which aligns well with our investment philosophy. They have demonstrated strong market demand for their outstanding products and we’re excited to support them in their mission to tackle the pervasive issue of plastic waste." 

Paul Jones, Senior Investment Manager from the British Business Bank said: "The South West Investment Fund was created to support ambitious and innovative businesses like Bower Collective, helping them scale and drive sustainable growth in the region. Bower’s commitment to eliminating plastic waste through circular economy principles aligns strongly with our mission to back businesses that deliver both commercial success and positive environmental impact." 

Plastic waste remains a global challenge; less than 10% of plastic is currently recycled, with most polluting the environment by ending up in landfill, the ocean or incineration. The refillable and reusable consumer goods category is projected to grow significantly over the next five years, providing ample opportunities for Bower Collective to further its mission. 

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. 

The Play Company, based in South Devon, has secured a £500,000 loan from the British Business Bank’s South West Investment Fund via appointed Fund Manager, The FSE Group. The investment will support the company's growth and expansion plans, including the creation of 20 new jobs over the next three years. 

With its roots as a soft play maintenance provider for over 20 years, The Play Company pivoted to a full-service offering of design, manufacture, and installation of soft play structures, interactive play areas, and sports pitches for the family entertainment centre sector, just before the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Despite the unprecedented challenges brought about by lockdowns, the company has now firmly established itself in the market and witnessed significant growth with an almost 70% increase in turnover last year. 

The funding will enhance operational capacity and expand international reach by enabling investment in new staff to handle increasing workloads, larger premises to accommodate the growing team and increased marketing efforts. 

Elliott Myatt, Managing Director of The Play Company which is based near Kingsbridge, said: "We're excited to use this South West Investment Fund loan to build on recent successes and convert our robust pipeline into new contracts. As a newly profit generating business, we don’t fit the criteria for high street lenders so finding in FSE a funder that is focused on the growth potential of our offering is refreshing. This investment will be pivotal in achieving our ambitious growth targets." 

Rob Ward, Investment Manager at The FSE Group, commented: "As a projection-led lender, we are thrilled to support The Play Company, a business with a strong reputation and significant growth trajectory both in the UK and internationally. The award-winning management team has demonstrated resilience and innovation, and we are confident in their ability to achieve their ambitious expansion goals." 

With this new investment, The Play Company is poised for significant growth, ready to manage increased project volumes in a global market currently worth circa $30billion and continuing to expand. 

Paul Jones, Senior Investment Manager, from the British Business Bank said: "The South West Investment Fund is designed to unlock growth opportunities for businesses across the region, and The Play Company is a great example of the impact that access to finance can have, especially when a business might not have the trading track record to satisfy many lenders. This investment will drive future growth and create a significant number of new jobs.” 

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. 

Big Business Intelligence, trading as Distil.ai, has successfully secured a £350,000 equity investment from the British Business Bank's South West Investment Fund, via appointed Fund Manager The FSE Group. The funding is part of a £1million round that also includes investment from Waterspring Ventures.  

Distil.ai is an AI-driven data and analytics platform that has carved a niche in transforming raw data into actionable business intelligence, with a particular focus on the restaurant and hospitality sectors.

Its scalable platform leverages AI to deliver powerful data insights, significantly boosting returns through operations, marketing effectiveness and customer relationship management. The Exeter-based company collaborates with OpenTable, the world’s largest restaurant booking platform, as well as other platforms, to unlock operational efficiencies.

The funding will fuel Distil’s ambitious growth plans, enhancing its team and advancing platform development including the addition of multi-language capabilities, ahead of a planned Series A funding round.

Gerry McNicol, founder and CEO of Distil, said: “This funding is allowing us to invest in key activities to accelerate our growth trajectory and solidify our position in the market. Planned developments mean we can continue to provide customers with unparalleled insights at exceptional value. We are excited to partner with The FSE Group and South West Investment Fund as we continue to expand our capabilities and enhance our platform.”

Distil’s competitive advantage lies in its ability to integrate multiple data sources, resolve fragments of customer data into usable single customer profiles whilst offering self-service analytics reducing the need for traditional data analysts. The platform is already trusted by top-tier customers such as Hawksmoor, Gordon Ramsay Restaurants, The Devonshire Group, Aqua Restaurants and Crowdcube with clients reporting significant improvements including a 200%+ uplift in sales of a single product in one case and 75% business growth in another.

Meg Salt, Investment Manager at The FSE Group, commented: “With its scalable technology and strong foothold in the restaurant sector, Distil.ai is a compelling investment opportunity. The company's unique access to OpenTable data, along with its credible management team, make it an exciting proposition. Distil is well-positioned to achieve significant growth and we are delighted to be supporting them on this journey.”

Paul Jones, Senior Investment Manager from the British Business Bank said: "Distil.ai is a great example of how data-driven innovation is thriving in the South West. By harnessing AI to unlock new value in hospitality and other sectors, the business is helping customers harness their data to drive efficiency and growth. We look forward to seeing how support from the South West Investment Fund accelerates Distil's next stage of development."

Sam Huxtable, Managing Partner at Waterspring Ventures added: “We are thrilled to announce our investment in Distil. With a highly experienced team, they have developed an innovative platform to help restaurant chains leverage data science to streamline and automate complex, manual operational processes. Now, with exclusive access to OpenTable's data, Distil is poised for significant growth, and we look forward to supporting them in seizing this exciting opportunity. 

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.

At The FSE Group we talk about sustainability a lot; it’s a weighty word with nuanced meaning.  

As one of our company values, we talk about it in terms of sustainable finance and sustainable growth. But we are also focused on the more familiar aspect of environmental sustainability, both in how we work with and support our portfolio companies to meet their environmental targets, and also the actions we take as a business to ourselves be more sustainable. 

By using an ESG VC framework with all of our portfolio, we ensure that these companies are assessing, monitoring and working towards strong ESG principles across their business. Many of the businesses we work with are registered B Corps or working towards B Corp accreditation and/or have made a commitment towards net zero. 

Our portfolio also features a number of businesses where the operation is provision of sustainable products and services, including: 

• Connekt Group is an independent electric vehicle (EV) charging network and commercial installation business, which secured a £250,000 Investment Fund for Scotland (IFS) loan to develop Connekt’s first three rapid charging hubs in Scotland, contributing to national sustainability goals and supporting the transition to electric vehicles. 

• Revolution-ZERO provides reusable medical textiles such as masks and surgical textiles. The company secured £1m South West Investment Fund equity to grow its circular economy solution that uses decontamination/sterilisation units equipped with an RFID tracking system. 

• Flexi-Hex received a £0.9m mix of debt and equity funding from Cornwall & Isles of Scilly Investment Fund to grow its sustainable packaging solutions, originally developed for the shipping of surfboards. Their durable, patented, recycled paper honeycomb sleeves are now used in the transit of goods including wine and premium toiletries, are curbside recyclable, and biodegrade within eight weeks. 

• RAD Propulsion is helping to reduce marine carbon emissions with its innovative electric engine technology, which cuts CO2 emissions by 89% compared to traditional diesel outboards. A £500,000 equity investment  from our Funding Escalator in the South East is helping the business drive product development.  

Since 2022 The FSE Group has been working towards Carbon Neutral Status, using an independent assessment tool and taking practical steps to change behaviours and practices that would reduce emissions. 

Paul Marston, CEO at The FSE Group, said: “with our focus on ensuring the businesses we fund are taking steps to be environmentally responsible, it’s important that we can lead by example.  Following the work to reduce our emissions, we have now taken action to offset the small amount of residual carbon via Carbon Neutral Britain. By supporting CNB’s Woodland Fund, we’re supporting projects both in the UK and around the world that are actively removing Carbon Dioxide & Greenhouse Gases from the Earth’s atmosphere. We’re proud to have gained Carbon Neutral status and look forward to continuing to support our portfolio companies to do the same.” 

Award-winning Yorkshire based Mini First Aid is expanding with investment from Finance Yorkshire.

The company was founded nine years ago by Kate Ball who has successfully grown the business which now operates more than 70 franchises covering most of the UK.

Mini First Aid provides first aid training and education to people of all ages with its original parent and carer classes proving most popular. Other classes are aimed at children and adults with workplace training available.

Kate started the business from her home after her brother died suddenly from heart failure. His student friends called the emergency services but the students did not know how to do CPR. Later, pregnant with her first child, she found there was little in the way of first aid training for parents-to-be.

A £100,000 investment from Finance Yorkshire’s Loan fund will support Mini First Aid in its growth ambitions which include new product development and staff hires including a marketing manager.

Mini First Aid’s parent and carer class covers all emergency situations including CPR, choking, bleeding and burns. On average, 1,000 families are trained each week. The company also sells branded first aid kits and has recently added a reuseable hot and cold gel pack to its product range.

Kate said: “My aim has been to build a brand providing first aid training which is memorable. All Mini First Aid classes are a brilliant learning experience – they are hands-on with skills taught in a way that people will remember should they need to put them into practice.”

Kate is joined in the business by her husband Matt who is operations and financial director. They have six children and Kate was named Yorkshire Businesswoman of the Year 2024.

The couple are now working with leading charities and the NHS to provide fully funded classes for low-income families. Kate added: “Only 10% of new parents are learning first aid so the opportunity to grow Mini First Aid in the UK is massive. There is also the potential for us to roll out our training model in other countries.”

Alex McWhirter, CEO of Finance Yorkshire, said: “Under Kate’s leadership, Mini First Aid has become a widely recognised brand delivering vital life skills to people of all ages. We are pleased to support the Mini First Aid team in their ambitions to grow further by reaching more people with their innovative style of first aid training.”

Business angels from the FSE Investor Network, in collaboration with investment funds and funding escalators managed by The FSE Group, have recently made significant contributions to the growth and innovation of several FSE portfolio companies.

Recent FSE angel investments include:

• RAD Propulsion: a £25,000 investment from one business angel contributed to a £5m funding round that also included £0.5m equity from the FSE managed South East Funding Escalator.
• Cybaverse: six FSE business angels collectively invested £91,000 alongside a £350,000 equity investment from the FSE managed Coast to Capital Funding Escalator as part of a £1+m round.
• Aura Life: backed by £84,000 from three FSE angels and a £350,000 equity investment, again from the Coast to Capital Funding Escalator, in a £2+m round.
• Intelligent AI: a £2+m funding round included £131,000 from a syndicate of six FSE angels with a £500,000 equity investment from Cornwall & Isles of Scilly Investment Fund, managed by FSE.

These companies operate in diverse sectors – marine electrification, cybersecurity, end-of-life planning and commercial property insurance – but all are driving innovation and facing substantial growth opportunities in the markets where they operate. The investments are helping to fund a range of growth-related activity, including product development, team expansion, geographical expansion and scaling operations, to help maximise their potential.

FSE’s Investor Network Manager, Trevor Jones, remarked: "Our network is committed to empowering high-growth UK companies across various sectors. We believe in the potential of these entrepreneurs and are dedicated to supporting their journey towards success. The diverse expertise and substantial experience of our business angels play a crucial role in driving these companies forward."

The FSE Investor Network remains an exclusive platform for active angel investors. Spanning all sectors, the network offers investment opportunities in high-growth businesses that, importantly, are backed by FSE-managed funds. Our angels share a breadth of entrepreneurial, professional, and business experience and typically invest between £10,000 and £50,000 in each company, sometimes more.

FSE Investor Network member and UK British Business Angels Association Angel Investor of the Year 2024 finalist, Damian Cavanagh said: “FSE Investor Network provides access to opportunities that have been vetted by the FSE investment teams, providing an added level of confidence when co-investing alongside FSE-managed funds. It’s great to see a broad range of potential deals and choose those that align with my interests and experience.”

For more information on investment opportunities or to join the FSE Investor Network, contact Trevor Jones: Trevor.Jones@thefsegroup.com

Wilder Sensing, a developer of software for biodiversity monitoring using audio and Artificial Intelligence (AI), has secured a £300,000 equity investment from the South West Investment Fund, via appointed Fund Manager The FSE Group. This forms part of a £700,000 investment round that also includes Oxford Innovation Finance and Cambridge Angels. The new funding will enable the company to create 15 new jobs, increasing its capacity to deliver cutting-edge solutions in biodiversity data collection and analysis.

Wilder Sensing has developed an innovative AI-based platform designed to measure and report on biodiversity through the analysis of audio data. The platform uses commercially available bioacoustic recording equipment to deliver accurate analysis of wildlife sounds, currently focusing on birds, and expanding over time to include bats, insects and other species. This continuous data collection offers more detailed and consistent insights compared to traditional static and human-led surveys.

Wilder Sensing's platform has already attracted a diverse range of customers, including Somerset Wildlife Trust, ecological consultancies and large-scale farming businesses, as well as a project for BBC's Springwatch. With potential applications across many sectors including Agriculture, Renewable Energy, Mining, Oil & Gas and Construction, the company is well-positioned to play a pivotal role in sustainable development and biodiversity conservation efforts.

Geoff Carss, CEO and co-founder of Wilder Sensing, which is based near Wedmore in Somerset, said: "The biodiversity collapse is one of the top global risks identified by the World Economic Forum, with over half of the world's GDP relying on nature. Our technology addresses the urgent need for accurate, scalable, and unbiased biodiversity monitoring around the world. This investment will enable us to enhance our platform and expand our reach, helping industries and government bodies make informed decisions backed by solid data."

Matt Browning, Investment Manager at The FSE Group, commented: "Wilder Sensing's innovative approach to biodiversity monitoring aligns perfectly with current market drivers and new legislative requirements. The company's participation in respected incubator and accelerator programs, along with its strong intellectual property potential, demonstrates its commercial viability and scalability. We are excited to support Wilder Sensing as they lead the way in this growing market."

As businesses and governments increasingly prioritise sustainability and nature regeneration initiatives, Wilder Sensing offers a robust solution to ensure activities are backed by data, enhancing environmental accountability and reducing the risk of greenwashing.

Paul Jones, Senior Manager from the British Business Bank said: “Wilder Sensing represents the kind of innovative, fast-growing business that the South West Investment Fund is dedicated to supporting. The team’s technology offers a powerful tool for industries looking to achieve meaningful sustainability goals, providing the accuracy and scale needed to make data-driven decisions for environmental stewardship. This investment reflects our commitment to nurturing businesses in the South West that contribute not only to the region’s economic strength but also to positive environmental impact.”

Richard Cooper, Managing Director at Oxford Innovation Finance, added: “Wilder Sensing has been generating significant interest for its pioneering technology which accurately measures and analyses biodiversity. With an increasing focus on corporate environmental goals, it is well positioned to lead the market for precise ecological data and reporting, and support environmental management efforts.”

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.

The FSE Group, a leading provider of market gap funding for SMEs, has released the results of a recent survey aimed at understanding current trends in business borrowing and confidence. The survey, which gathered responses from key stakeholders such as accountants, brokers, and banks, offers a snapshot of the financial landscape businesses are navigating today.

The survey revealed that a significant 80% of respondents anticipate that businesses will continue to borrow either the same amount or more over the next six months compared to the previous period. Only 20% believe there will be a decrease in borrowing activities, suggesting a stable or growing need for funding among businesses.

Among the financial products in demand, Commercial Mortgages and overdrafts emerged as the most popular, with each being ranked highest by over a quarter of respondents. Asset Finance, Unsecured Loans, and Invoice Finance collectively accounted for 43% of the preferences, highlighting a diverse interest in financing options.

When it comes to general business confidence, opinions were divided. One third of respondents expressed a belief that confidence would decline compared to the last six months, almost half expected it to remain the same, and just over one-fifth anticipated an increase.

"The survey highlights the complexities in the current business financial environment," said Paul Marston, CEO of The FSE Group. "While there is a clear appetite for growth funding, our insights suggest that whilst most Bank lending policies require some form of security to lend to smaller businesses, other gap funders remain open to forecast-led lending, provided there is historical performance data available."

The mixed outlook on business confidence may be further impacted by the recent government announcement regarding a rise in national insurance contributions by employers with the policy change potentially leading to reduced willingness among businesses to borrow, as they adjust to new financial pressures.

Paul added: "While the rise in national insurance contributions definitely poses a new challenge, the resilience of the British business community cannot be understated. We've seen remarkable adaptability and strength, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic and these new costs may see even more focus on productivity."

The FSE Group remains committed to supporting businesses that have an opportunity to grow, including those relying on that growth being a success in order to fund their additional financing requirements.

Safe Space Technology has closed a seed funding round with the South West Investment Fund , via appointed fund manager and lead investor for the round, The FSE Group.

Safe Space Technology, trading as Safe Workplace, has developed a comprehensive ethics and compliance platform that provides culture-first enterprise organisations with the tools to create and manage inclusive, safe and high-functioning workforces that proudly champion a shared code of ethics and conduct.

Safe Workplace has rapidly gained traction since launching in 2022 and already has a customer base that includes leading brands across sectors including finance, pharmaceutical, mining and hospitality, as well as Amazon.

The platform offers a suite of culture and compliance tools, from reporting and case management to integrated policy suites with compliance tracking and more, to enable Employee Relations and Compliance departments to act proactively and effortlessly.

Safe Workplace CEO, Romano Rabie, said: "Building a healthy workplace culture is a collective responsibility; employees need to feel equipped, safe and protected, with Employee Relations and Compliance empowered and accountable. Our platform supports organisations to act fairly, kindly and responsibly, reaping the benefits of the Safe Workplace they create.  We are delighted to receive this South West Investment Fund funding, which will enable us to further develop our product and expand our team."

Anna Staevska, Investment Manager at The FSE Group, added: "Safe Workplace has demonstrated remarkable growth by securing global keystone clients and offering a superior product that addresses real problems faced by businesses today. The experienced team behind Safe Workplace has a proven track record of building and exiting successful ventures and we are thrilled to support their vision."

Safe Workplace plans to expand its workforce across all business operations, with the goal of exceeding 100 employees and targeting a £25+ million turnover, within five years. 

Alex Breeden, Principal at co-investor, Fuel Ventures commented: "Safe Workplace is platformising the very necessary checks that need to be put in place for the very largest enterprises in order to find workplace risks and resolve them. Every large company should be using a platform like this."

The global human resource technology market is projected to surpass $75 billion in the next decade, driven by the rise of hybrid working models and evolving legislation to prevent workplace misconduct. Safe Workplace is well-positioned to capitalise on these trends by offering a highly configurable platform that integrates previously disparate elements seamlessly.

Paul Jones from the British Business Bank said: "We are pleased to support Safe Workplace in its mission to create safer, more inclusive workplaces through innovative compliance and ethics technology. Safe Workplace’s rapid traction and ability to attract major clients speaks to the strength of its platform and their expertise. We look forward to seeing the funding help accelerate their growth and meet the rising demand for their culture-first compliance platform.”

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.

Spring Food Limited, a producer of bone broth and bone broth soup based in Essex, has secured a £100,000 investment from the East of England Regional Loan Scheme, managed by The FSE Group.

Spring Food, trading as Spring, has carved out a niche in the culinary market with its range of almost 30 bone broth products sold both online and through its network of circa 200 retail partners. These include high-end independent food retailers, farmers markets and recognised national retailers such as Marks and Spencer.

The popularity of bone broth, celebrated for its nutritional benefits, continues to rise, appealing to a broad demographic from millennials to the elderly.

In a bid to capitalise on this growing market, Spring sought alternative financing solutions to fill the gap left by traditional lenders with limited interest in lending to smaller, growing businesses in the current economic climate.

“This growth loan facility is exactly what we were looking for at this stage of our business,” said Tom Pryor, Spring Founder and Managing Director. “It not only helps us implement our current digital and marketing strategies but also supports capacity building and provides the working capital needed to facilitate the delivery of large contracts to major customers. We are delighted to be working with FSE and look forward to accelerating our growth with this funding.”

With its established processes, robust supply chain, and loyal customer base, Spring has already achieved significant growth over the past five years. It has successfully grown its retail partnerships and continues to experience strong year-on-year growth.

Simon Elliott, Investment Manager at The FSE Group, commented: “Spring has demonstrated an impressive trajectory with its organic growth and innovative product offerings. We are excited to support the continued expansion of the business and are confident that our investment will catalyse further success in their mission to deliver superior, sustainable food products.”

Spring’s commitment to quality and sustainability is evident in their end-to-end business model, collaborating directly with small, independent farmers who adhere to the highest welfare and environmental standards, ensuring that their products minimise food waste and are ethically produced.

The Regional Growth Loan Scheme (RGLS) is managed by The FSE Group on behalf of Local Enterprise Partnerships in the East of England. Loans between £50,000 and £500,000 are available to established incorporated businesses based within the East of England that have a minimum annual turnover of £100,000. The funding can be used for a range of growth activities as well as to service short to medium-term trade and contract finance requirements. The scheme aims to stimulate job creation and economic prosperity and supports SMEs that have the potential to deliver high-growth and employment opportunities across the East of England region.