News

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.

A Truro-based provider of energy management solutions has secured £175,000 equity from the British Business Bank's South West Investment Fund via appointed fund manager, The FSE Group, as part of a £300,000 funding round.

Green Power Solutions has developed an advanced energy management platform that addresses key challenges faced by industries relying on off-grid power solutions. These sites heavily rely on assets powered by diesel generators, which present issues such as maintenance, downtime, and CO2 emissions tracking.

The company’s software integrates seamlessly with existing hardware, giving clients the ability to monitor, manage, and optimise their entire operations remotely. Providing real-time alerts and centralised energy management, Green Power Solutions offers a more sustainable solution with advanced analytics and real-time energy adjustments that reduce maintenance costs and streamline compliance.

Sam Taylor, CEO of Green Power Solutions, said: “This funding will allow us to further enhance our software capabilities and expand our market reach, ensuring we are well-equipped to meet our ambitious targets and provide innovative and sustainable solutions for a wide range of industries. We are thrilled to receive support from South West Investment Fund and look forward to working with The FSE Group as we grow.”

Anna Staevska, Investment Manager at The FSE Group, commented: “Green Power Solutions has demonstrated a proven market fit with its innovative software platform. The company's strong customer base, robust distribution agreements, and motivated management team make it a compelling investment opportunity. We believe the business has the potential to deliver a significant return on investment, and we are excited to support them on this journey.”

Green Power Solutions will use the funding to build capacity across sales, customer service and in-house development. With a strong pipeline of potential customers and established relationships with major hardware manufacturers, the company aims to become a leading name in the performance monitoring of off-grid assets.

Paul Jones, British Business Bank said: “Green Power Solutions is at the forefront of sustainable innovation, transforming energy management practices to reduce cost and emissions for industries relying on off-grid power. We’re pleased that the latest funding through the South West Investment Fund will help the company position itself to build capacity as it embarks on this next phase of growth.”

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.

We’re thrilled to announce that CybaVerse has secured over £1.1 million in funding, fueling our bold vision for growth and innovation in the cyber security space. This investment marks a significant milestone in our journey to advance, expand our capabilities and allow us to continue delivering our top-tier cyber security solutions.

Backed by FSE Group, Haatch, Founder & Lightning, including FSE angel investors and the University of Sussex Business Angels group, this milestone highlights our momentum as it redefines the future of cyber security with the SaaS platform, CybaVerse AI. The funding will drive team expansion and accelerate development of the platform, with the company recently appointing three senior leaders to spearhead this exciting next chapter.

The new hires include esteemed technology industry veteran, Andreas Wuchner, who joins as Chairman. With over 26 years of cyber security experience, Andreas has held senior roles at global giants like Deutsche Bank, UBS, and HP. His remarkable track record at some of the world’s leading organisations brings a wealth of knowledge and insight that will be invaluable as CybaVerse continues to grow and push boundaries in the industry. Andreas’s leadership will play a key role in helping CybaVerse achieve its goals and further grow the company.

“I’m delighted to be a part of the CybaVerse team. I have been completely drawn to Ollie’s ambitions and goals and the company’s innovation and creativity, which I believe will significantly benefit the security community at large. Cyber security is the most critical challenge in the digital world and we must support SMEs with a more efficient way to defend against the threats they face, otherwise we will always be on the backfoot to adversaries. I believe CybaVerse is making strides in tackling this important issue and I am delighted I will be playing a part in helping them reach this goal with my skills, experience and network,” said Andreas Wuchner.

The CybaVerse team have also welcomed Juliette Hudson as CTO. Juliette brings invaluable technical knowledge and experience to the role, with previous positions including SOC regional manager at Kroll, plus previous technical roles at Bupa and Symantec. Additionally, Nicola Hartland also joins the team as a Non-Executive Director and Board Advisor. Nicola has worked in cyber and technology for over 20 years and she will use her vast experience to enhance relationships with clients and scale the company.

These new hires have been involved in the technology industry, each with a proven track record of driving growth, fostering innovation, and ensuring success for the businesses they’ve worked with. Now, CybaVerse is poised to leverage their expertise to elevate its customer experience, accelerate the evolution of CybaVerse AI with the help of Founder & Lightening, and propel the company’s growth to the next level.

“We love the fact that CybaVerse has significant traction and very impressive founders and board. They are the perfect fit for us as they already have product-market fit nailed and the love of their customer base. We will now support them to reach their next goals with tech and investment. We were very impressed with their ultimate vision to build a comprehensive SaaS-based cyber security management system tailored for SMEs. Cybersecurity is vital to the functioning of all companies and particularly poignant at the moment with the evolution of AI. It's really great to be working with Gemma, Oliver and the team. We're very excited for the journey ahead.” Says Matt Jonns, Ceo & Founder of Founder & Lightning.

CybaVerse has evolved from a boutique consultancy into an innovative and highly skilled cyber security managed services provider with CybaVerse AI leading the way for all industry types. With a team of experts skilled at solving the high-stakes and complex challenges faced by its clients, CybaVerse is redefining how cyber security is managed. The recent launch of its cutting-edge platform, CybaVerse AI, marks a major leap forward. Designed to simplify cyber security management for SMEs, the platform provides a unified view across their entire cyber landscape, boosting efficiency, enhancing project management, and lightening the load on in-house IT and security teams.

“It’s a pleasure to welcome Andreas, Nicola and Juliette to our growing team. With their rich technical experience and deep expertise in operations and leadership, they will be invaluable assets to CybaVerse. As we continue to develop CybaVerse and our platform offerings, I believe they each have the necessary skills and experience to help us realise, and surpass, our ambitions,” said Oliver Spence, CEO of CybaVerse.

We can’t wait to see where the next chapter of our journey takes CybaVerse, as we continue pushing the boundaries of cyber security innovation and helping our clients to thrive in a secure digital world with the use of CybaVerse AI.