Birmingham signwriting firm targets growth after new funding deal
A BIRMINGHAM signwriting business is targeting growth after securing a new funding deal.
Traditional signwriting and signage manufacturer HNS Signs is planning to invest in new technology and recruit additional staff after being helped by commercial financier, Central Finance.
It called in the finance company for help accessing Governmental grants to invest in new technology and subsidises to help offset the cost of employing and training an additional four members of staff, including one apprentice. It is also using funds to invest in its sales and marketing activities.
Michelle Henry, managing director at HNS Signs said: “Thanks to Central Finance, our ideas to grow the business, employ more staff, improve our service offering, engage with bigger clients and bring more business to the Midlands can now be put into place.
“It’s very exciting to be a business owner right now, especially here in the Midlands where have so many opportunities to grow. For me, hiring more people, moving premises and growing our business is a significant achievement for us and it’s down to the commercial finance decisions we made.”
Alison Bradley, managing director at Central Finance added: “Working with Michelle to achieve their financial aims to grow their business, provide jobs to local people and attract new business has been both enjoyable and challenging.
“Even in a recovering and booming economy, commercial finance is a complex market and achieving a package of finance and grant funding for HNS Signs needed significant experience of grant application and fund sourcing to ensure that the finance package worked for the business.”
She said it was very important to find the right grant to suit a particular business as not all businesses would meet the criteria for certain types of grants.
She said this was the case with HNS Signs, which received funding through an ERDF programme administered by Birmingham City Council.
HNS Signs is already seeing the rewards for its commercial financial decisions, investing in new machinery, namely a top of the range wide format printer and a CNC machine, which along with skills development and new recruits has seen it secure national contracts with retailers including Bargain Booze and Wine Rack.
