MSIF continues to support businesses impacted by the Coronavirus pandemic

Liverpool based SME funding provider MSIF is continuing to support regional businesses impacted by the Coronavirus pandemic following the recent launch of their dedicated Coronavirus Resilience and Recovery Fund (CRRF).  

North West Linen Services Ltd, a provider of laundry and linen hire services to hotel and hospitality clients throughout the North West, is one business that has successfully accessed the fund, and the Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme (CBILS) guarantee, to secure a £100,000 investment. 

Managing Director, Anna Slater approached MSIF for financial support who were able to provide a quick turnaround to deliver the funding needed, helping guide her business through the Coronavirus outbreak.

Anna commented: “With our business being an extension of the hospitality sector, we found ourselves in a very difficult situation due to Covid-19. We had growing concerns about when the business would resume and how, in the meantime, we were meant to continue paying bills with no income to speak of. 

“Having considered other avenues without success, I then approached Sue Chambers, an Investment Manager at MSIF and explained our 

circumstances. Thanks to MSIF we were able to quickly secure a £100k CBILS loan to allow the business to continue to trade and help us navigate our way through the impacts of the pandemic. MSIF have worked with us numerous times over the past 6 years helping us secure funding and progress our business. Sue and the team are invaluable and we cannot thank them enough for their support and belief especially in this testing time.”

Sue Chambers, MSIF Investment Manager added: “I have known Anna and NW Linen Services for a long time and I had the pleasure of supporting the business through various stages of its growth. As a young business woman, Anna has successfully grown her business and secured new contracts over the years, but sadly no-one could have foreseen the impact Coronavirus would have on local businesses across the region. 

“I am thrilled that we have been able to support NW Linen once again. It is a terrific business and we have a responsibility to ensure that previously healthy SMEs can survive/make it through this difficult time.”

MSIF are now accepting further applications for their Coronavirus Resilience and Recovery Fund. Please contact info@msif.co.uk or visit www.msif.co.uk for further information. 

MSIF contact:

Lauren Metcalf

Marketing Executive

Lauren.Metcalf@MSIF.co.uk

Case Study: I used to be wary about using social media for my business!

Suffering from excessive hair breakage, Natural hair enthusiast, Jumoke Adeyemi decided to start making her own Ayurvedic products to resolve the problem. She soon realised the need for more education around black haircare, sparing her on to start her own products and business, AkuaJ Naturals.

Jumoke Adeyemi, Founder of AkuaJ Naturals

She told us “I’ve always loved making Ayurvedic hair products, particularly infused oils. My focus is on black hair, especially for people of an African descent as our hair is prone to dryness and breakage in colder climates”

This gave her the push she needed to explore the possibility of turning this into her own hair oil business. Unsure where to start, she approached The Women’s Organisation for support.

Jumoke had her first meeting with Cynthia, and accessed in-house courses to get her brainstorming.

“My experience with The Women’s Organisation has been great. After filling out an enquiry form, I was contacted and quickly allocated with my adviser Cynthia. She was very helpful, talking me through the various stages of developing my business”

Attending 1-2-1 and group sessions, she was able to focus on producing a business plan and market research.  

“I learned all about the tools I could be utilising to gather and analyse data. This support was also instrumental to me finally engaging with social media, something I was wary of using!”

Cynthia Ajayi from The Women’s Organisation told us: “Working with Jumoke was amazing, she’s very passionate about the business, saw the gap for good hair care and wanted to fill it. For her, it was important to provide a quality product that was beneficial to black women and men.

She overcame a lot of moments of doubt and kept on going, building up the business”

Jumoke is now focusing on setting up hair care workshop and shows in the future.

“I’m passionate on educating black people on healthy hair practices and look forward to growing in the future!”

You can head over to Jumoke's Instagram to find out more about Akuaj naturals products and the services they offer here 

If you have been thinking about setting up your own business and would like to see how Enterprise Hub and The Women’s Organisation can help you grow your new business, then get in touch with us. Email hello@thewo.org.uk