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Since establishment in 2002, The FSE Group has been operating at the heart of the SME community, serving eligible businesses who are unable to source funding from conventional or even alternative funding channels, helping them to realise their growth ambitions. This challenge has never fallen into greater focus than in these current exceptional times.

It may be that your business had to pause temporarily due to COVID-19 and you may now be thinking about gradually returning to work, re-introducing employees back to the workplace, re-establishing supplier relationships and re-commencing contracts whilst adjusting to business as (un)usual.

In the “here and now” cashflow and financial concerns could seem more prevalent than before and it might be that your business could benefit from a short-term cash injection, but you may not be sure of any remaining options available to you.

One of the products within The FSE Group’s portfolio, offered in certain regions of the UK for which your SME could be eligible is the East of England Regional Trade Finance Loan Scheme.

This scheme is available to eligible SMEs who are established as a limited company and have a material part of its operations located within Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire, Essex, Hertfordshire, Norfolk or Suffolk. Loan amounts range from £50,000 - £250,000 and are repayable over 3 – 12 months.

You could be eligible for this scheme if you have a short-term trade funding requirement that may include the following criteria:

• Working capital for specific new contracts/orders: enabling SMEs to fulfil particular orders or contracts which would otherwise have been unattainable due to the working capital cycles involved (e.g. up-front supplier payments, delivery timescales, client payment terms)
• Short term irregular invoicing patterns from specific contracts/projects
• Up-front tooling requirements for identifiable medium-term contracts or export activity
• Cash-backing for performance bonds/guarantees: temporary credit enhancement to enable banks to support SMEs in the tendering and delivery of significant/strategic contracts

 

Background

Farnborough based sovereign company TriCIS, established in October 2016 by Co-Founders Antony Summerfield (CEO) Tim Luxford (Special Projects Director) and Robert Cook (technical Director), encompasses a Management team with in excess of 30 years’ experience delivering end-to-end, high security and exceptional quality solutions for complete systems integration to MoD, Government and NATO.

TriCIS incorporates UK CFTCS, MILITARY Standards, HMG security requirements and NATO TEMPEST standards.

Challenges which face the Defence and Government Agencies and how TriCIS provide solutions

The MOD, Government and NATO rely heavily on assured information. It is vital that information and the systems used to manage and process the data are as effective as possible. Currently, in order to deliver improvements at speed and scale them, the MOD, Government and NATO agencies must manage their data far more effectively than they do today.

New and emerging technologies can provide better capabilities to operations and supporting functions and this is where businesses such as TriCIS step in.

TriCIS through innovation is on a mission to help their clients increase the value of their data and give them the ability to use it effectively to improve the decisions they make. Improving efficiency and productivity will enable their customers processes to run smoother and faster no matter where they are in the world.

One example of this, is where TriCIS, working alongside counterparts within the US and Tier 1 partners, Dell, was faced with the dilemma of how to reduce hardware, whilst having readily available all of the software required to securely and successfully fulfil operations. To put this into perspective, imagine being on the front line of a war zone, carrying double of each piece of hardware and communication equipment which you need at that time, to access information on different systems. TriCIS listened to the problem, secured a solution and are currently taking that solution through UK accreditation.

All the time the systems remain: Secure. Integrated. Encrypted.

Seeing Into the future with The FSE Group

Although originally established as an Engineering Business, Antony always had his sights set on expansion to cover the most pressing needs of the industry and more importantly the end users who require access to information wherever they are in the world.

Three years on, TriCIS has increased its portfolio of services which include PCoIP technology, advanced encryption software capabilities and electromagnetic protection.

Ralph Singleton, from The FSE Group, who managed the investment in TriCIS from the Enterprise M3 Growth Fund, comments: “TriCIS take the time to listen to the needs of their clients. They have the expertise and capability within the fields which they operate, to be able to offer a quick turnaround, with smaller batch quantities by liaising with their tier 1 affiliates. This affords them the ability to respond quickly and provide the solutions required for their clients. It was a pleasure to work with Antony, Tim and Robert and to be able to invest in the business, see them appoint a CFO whilst strengthening their product offering. As technology continues to evolve, I wish them all every success for the 21st century and beyond.”

Ann-Marie Warner-Read, Defence Director at TriCIS adds: “TriCIS aims to support the security, independence, and interests of Governments, Armed Forces and Allied partners. At TriCIS we are passionate about our end users. Always striving for innovation and engineering excellence which underpins our ethos of putting the customer at the heart of what we do. As part of the SME community, we have worked tirelessly throughout the current COVID-19 pandemic, providing much needed capability to our Defence and Government Clients. This achievement was rewarded at The UK Enterprise Awards 2020, on behalf of SME News, quarterly digital publication who bestowed TriCIS with 2 awards: “Best Military Grade Computing & Network Company” and ICT & Peripheral Equipment Innovation Excellence Award.” We look forward to continue being innovative and passionate about what we do in the future.”

The Enterprise M3 Funding Escalator II is £10million initiative funded by Enterprise M3 Local Enterprise Partnership. The escalator, which includes an expansion loan scheme, a trade finance loan scheme and an equity growth fund, provides eligible companies with loans and equity funding between £50,000 and £300,000 for activities that will deliver high-growth and employment opportunities across the EM3 area.

For more information about TriCIS, visit www.tricis.co.uk

The global pandemic COVID-19, has been described as the worst economic crisis for 90 years, hitting UK SMEs particularly hard. Many were forced to furlough their employees or cease trading altogether.

No doubt the months ahead will be challenging, in ways that could not previously have been predicted. In these uncertain times, whilst the road to recovery is a long one, it is important to remember that UK SMEs are both resilient and creative.

Despite the pandemic and difficulties faced by Cornish SMEs, The Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Investment Fund (CIOSIF) has continued to support eligible businesses in the region, from a wide range of sectors.

SMEs have been able to secure either debt or equity funding to help their business grow and succeed. Over the past few months during lockdown, CIOSIF has completed four new deals:

Penryn based Red Planet Publishing Ltd an independent publishing house, producing books, e-books and music (£80,000 debt)

Bude based Service Robotics Ltd created the UK’s first companion robot, designed to support vulnerable and elderly people (£300k CIOSIF equity)

Penryn based Glas Data Ltd developed a data management and decision support tool for agriculture (£140k CIOSIF equity)

Codices Interactive Ltd designed an interactive video platform for live streaming (£250k equity)

Three follow-on investments also completed during the pandemic with more deals expected to complete in the next quarter.

Redruth based Wildanet Ltd, received further investment which will enable them to continue with the roll out of high-speed broadband across the county

Truro based Clinical Designs Technologies Ltd received follow-on funding to assist them with the rollout of their Urine Testing System both in the UK and abroad

Truro based software company, Colateral (formerly known as Swoop Applications Ltd) received follow-on funding to support their continued Growth

As well as deal completions, the CIOSIF team are poised, ready and available to enable SMEs in the region to get back on track, achieve accelerated growth post COVID-19 whilst adapting their business to the current “new normal.”  Their regular informative webinars, advice and support groups have permitted them to provide this level of care to existing clients, whilst also reaching out to the wider region

Ralph Singleton, Head of Fund at The FSE Group, adds: “Over the past two years,The Cornwall & Isles of Scilly Fund has supported 23 local businesses with £5.4m of investment and enabled a further £4.2m of external investment, bringing total investment into the region via CIOSIF of £9.6m. This investment has led to the creation of 82 new jobs within the region. The fund has invested in a wide range of sectors including digital technology, healthcare, artisan baking, online retail, support services, recreational activities and manufacturing.    

The fund has also spent considerable effort helping companies become “investment ready” which can take time but will provide better long-term opportunities for the Company, the Fund and Cornwall.”

The £40m Cornwall & Isles of Scilly Investment Fund provides debt and equity finance from £25,000 to £2 million to help growing small businesses across the region. It has been established by the British Business Bank in partnership with the Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) and is operated by appointed fund managers The FSE Group.

CIOSIF is supported 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.

For more information about the Cornwall & Isles of Scilly Investment Fund including how to apply, please visit www.ciosif.co.uk  or follow the fund on Twitter at @CIOSIFBBB2

Hampshire based company Zennergy International Ltd., has received £125,000 from the Enterprise M3 Short Term Trade Finance Loan Scheme. The funding will be used as working capital against a specific contract based in the Middle East.

Zennergy was established in 2010 by Phil Holland, who decided to start his own company after gaining 40+ years’ experience in the industry and international recognition as a supplier of Infrastructure Solutions to the Gas Power Market.

The mission at Zennergy is clear: “To deliver first class, gas industry solutions and services to customers worldwide.” Working alongside their associates, Zennergy offer worldwide solutions. Delivering complete turnkey gas infrastructure solutions through innovative engineering design, consultancy, project management, installation and ongoing operation and maintenance, handling million-pound projects and turning them round within 16-20 weeks.

One of the company’s strengths is the speed at which they are able to respond to their client’s specific requirements by using their capability, knowledge and agility.

Phil Holland, Managing Director of Zennergy Ltd commented: “Energy need is becoming much more decentralised with smaller power systems needed for meeting peak period requirements, and this fits well with our expertise. Working with our associated companies, we can provide quality, fully certified and tested products on all projects undertaken as well as ISO 9001 and Gas Safety Certification. Our thanks to Derek for giving us sound financial advice about how best to fund an overseas contract which we have recently been awarded.”

Derek Ellis, Fund Manager at The FSE Group, which manages the Enterprise M3 Short Term Trade Finance Loan Scheme on behalf of Enterprise M3 Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP), comments: “It was a pleasure to be introduced to Phil and to be able to support his new contract. The company has a successful track record of working on projects for gas utilities, gas to power projects and industrial applications. I wish Phil and his highly skilled workforce all the best for the forthcoming contract.”

Kathy Slack, Director, Enterprise M3 LEP, comments: “Gaining inroads in overseas trade is critically important at this current time and we know that exporting goods and services can lead to productivity improvements that are so vital for our economy. I’m pleased to see our Short Term Trade Finance Loan Scheme helping Zennergy to fund their overseas contract. In difficult economic times it is encouraging to see companies in our area continuing to expand their work.”

The Enterprise M3 Short Term Trade Finance Loan Scheme is part of the Enterprise M3 Funding Escalator, £10million initiative funded by Enterprise M3 LEP. The escalator, which also includes an expansion loan scheme and an equity growth fund, provides eligible companies with loans and equity funding between £50,000 and £300,000 for activities that will deliver high-growth and employment opportunities across the EM3 area.

For more information about Zennergy Ltd, visit: http://www.zennergy-int.co.uk/

Since establishment in 2002, The FSE Group has been operating at the heart of the SME community helping them to realise their growth ambitions.

This challenge has never fallen into greater focus than in these current exceptional times.

It may be that your business has had to pause temporarily due to COVID-19 and you may now be thinking about gradually returning to work, re-introducing employees back to the workplace, re-establishing supplier relationships and re-commencing contracts whilst adjusting to business as (un)usual.

In the “here and now” cashflow and financial concerns could seem more prevalent than before and it might be that your business could benefit from a short-term cash injection, but you may not be sure of all the options available to you.

One of the products within The FSE Group’s portfolio, offered in the South East for which your SME could be eligible is the Trade Finance Loan Scheme.

South East – Short Term Trade Finance Loan Scheme

The term trade finance loan is available to eligible SMEs who are established as a limited company and have a material part of its operations located within the Enterprise M3 or Thames Valley Berkshire area. 

Loan amounts range from £50,000 - £300,000 and are repayable over 3 – 12 months.

You could be eligible for this scheme if you have a short-term trade funding requirement that may include the following criteria:

• Working capital for specific new contracts or orders, which would enable your business to fulfil orders or contracts
• Short term irregular invoicing patterns from specific contracts/projects
• Up-front tooling requirements for identifiable medium-term contracts or export activity
• Cash-backing for performance bonds/guarantees: temporary credit enhancement to enable banks to support SMEs in the tendering and delivery of significant/strategic contracts