Print and Digital media business, Country and Town House, based in the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham, has secured a £400,000 loan from the Greater London Investment Fund (GLIF). The funding will enable the company to recruit additional staff across their marketing and sales departments and upgrade their web platform.
Country & Town House is the go-to destination for trusted, inspiring and uplifting content that enhances readers’ lifestyles wherever they live and champions living a balanced life. Underpinned by the values of Britishness, luxury and sustainability, Country & Town House reaches an audience of over half a million readers through its printed magazines and supplements, newsletters, podcasts and website.
Country & Town House connects its readers with advertising partners through engaging and influential content across different lifestyle categories including Culture, Style, Interiors, Property, Schools, Food & Drink, Hotels & Travel and Health & Wellbeing, highlighting sustainable products, practices, brands and companies wherever relevant.
The business responded quickly to the impact of Covid-19 moving to bi-monthly print editions, supported by a greater focus on its digital offering.
Jeremy Isaac, Co-Founder & Managing Director of Country and Town House commented: “When COVID-19 hit, it was a challenging time for all companies in the media sector. As a business we took the decision to reduce the frequency of our print offering and ramp up our focus on the digital side. I firmly believe our digital strategy will be the key to maintaining our growth going forward. The funding will allow us to further build upon the strong brand values from the print side of the business and roll these elements out digitally. The finance will also allow us to implement and support our digital strategy by being able to recruit a dedicated online team. Our thanks to The FSE Group for supporting our growth ambitions and helping us to secure the necessary finance.”
David Booth, Investment Manager for The FSE Group, who manages the £55 million GLIF debt fund on behalf of Funding London, commented: “Jeremy has established a strong London based media business with a focus on key markets in both print and digital. We were impressed by the business model, the management team and the willingness to adapt to change. We are delighted to be supporting Jeremy and his team and look forward to seeing their growth journey across the coming years.”
Maggie Rodriguez-Piza, CEO at Funding London, adds: “Being a serial entrepreneur, Jeremy is well equipped to identify opportunities even in the most challenging environments. The adoption of online delivery models has given resilience across many sectors under current circumstances. We are delighted to support the expansion of Country and Town House’s digital team which will enable them to strengthen their market position and unlock growth in the future.”
GLIF is a £100m initiative to help address the SME finance gap in Greater London, promoting economic growth through enterprise and an inclusive and sustainable economy. £55m of debt funding is available, via loans between £100,000 and £1m, to early-stage and established SMEs looking to scale-up and realise their growth ambitions. GLIF is financed through the European Investment Bank (EIB), European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), London Waste & recycling Board (LWARB) and Funding London’s Legacies.