Business development service bags six-figure loan for bigger space and training hub
Entrepreneurs Circle, a group for small business owners, has secured a £500,000 loan from the Midlands Engine Investment Fund II, managed by Frontier Development Capital (FDC), to support its expansion into larger premises and the creation of a training facility.
With over 50 staff already employed, the company expects to create 12 new jobs as a result of the funding.
The funding will enable the group to relocate from its current city centre location to a 15,000 sq ft unit in Solihull, tripling its floor space.
It will feature a space for events and training, with the capacity to host up to 100 entrepreneurs daily.
Based in Birmingham, Entrepreneurs Circle supports thousands of small businesses across the UK through monthly networking events in over 100 towns.
The group offers advice on marketing and business growth, runs training courses and provides coaching to hundreds of entrepreneurs.
Founded in 2010 by Nigel Botterill, an entrepreneur and author of Botty’s Rules, Entrepreneurs Circle has experienced growth, increasing its membership by 25% and its revenue by 37% in 2024.
Botterill said: “UK small businesses are the engine room of the economy. With our new centre in Solihull, we can provide world-class support to entrepreneurs to help them grow. Having a hundred business owners a day coming to the Midlands for training is going to have a massive impact on their lives and businesses – it’s hugely exciting.”
David Tindall, senior investment manager at the British Business Bank said: “The Midlands Engine Investment Fund II supports small and growing businesses throughout the Midlands region. Its recent investment in Entrepreneurs Circle highlights the fund’s commitment to address barriers in access to finance and help smaller businesses to foster growth and expansion.”
