The FSE Group is pleased to announce the appointment of two experienced Investment Managers: Ann Marie McFadyen and Chris Bailey. They join the Group’s Midland’s team which manages the Midlands Engine Investment Fund (MEIF) Debt Finance Fund and will be responsible for supporting eligible SMEs within the area.
Ann Marie brings over 30 years of experience within the financial services industry, having previously worked at RBS and Bibby Financial Services. Ann Marie will be focusing on the East Midlands area, working to help support businesses based in the South-East Midlands LEP and Leicester & Leicestershire LEP.
Chris joins The FSE Group after 30 years at Lloyds Banking Group, where he had various roles, including in Commercial Business Development and as a Client Relationship Director managing varied, high value portfolios across different sectors. He has an in-depth knowledge of specialist funding and will have responsibilities throughout the Midlands region, helping to build new intermediary contacts and ultimately to fund and support SME’s who are working to scale-up their businesses.
Andy Moss, Head of Fund at The FSE Group, which manages the MEIF Debt Finance Fund commented: “We welcome Ann Marie and Chris to The Midlands Team. They are very experienced finance professionals, bringing strong capability that will help the team support eligible SMEs within the region, enabling us to deliver our stakeholder commitments, whilst strengthening the local economy.”
MEIF Debt Finance Fund can be used for expansion related activities which will deliver substantial growth impact within the area. Through this fund, eligible SMEs can secure growth loans ranging from £100,000 – £1,500,000 which could be used for sales and marketing activity, hiring of new employees/job creation/new product development/exporting abroad/purchasing new equipment/entering new markets.
Ann Marie McFadyen, Investment Manager at The FSE Group, adds: “I am looking forward to supporting local SME’s by helping them to realise their potential. Being able to offer the right financial solutions for their individual requirements is so important and will enable them to grow their business. I’m excited to build long term relationships with local SMEs and watch them go from strength to strength.
Chris Bailey, Investment Manager at The FSE Group, added: “I am keen to provide advice and guidance to help entrepreneurs within the Midland’s area to ascertain the next step of their business journey. I am looking forward to working with a diverse portfolio of companies and being instrumental in helping them reach their goals.”
Mark Wilcockson, Senior Manager at the British Business Bank added: “It’s good to see the MEIF Debt Finance team at The FSE Group being strengthened with the recruitment of Ann Marie and Chris. The Fund is dedicated to supporting smaller businesses across the region in reaching their growth potential, working through our Investment Managers and having experienced teams on the ground, is of course, very important in being able to successfully deploy our funds.”
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 2014-2020 and the European Investment Bank.