£250,000 investment to support health communications business

Healthcare communications company Luto has received an investment of £250,000 from NPIF – FW Capital Debt Finance, managed by FW Capital and part of the Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund (NPIF).

The business, based in Bradford, received the funding to support its growth plans and help it to recover from the disruption of Covid-19.

The FW Capital funding has secured the jobs of 14 full-time and one part-time staff members and created five further roles.

Luto specialises in writing and designing clear and user-friendly health communications such as educational materials and package leaflets.

It was founded in 2004 by academics from Leeds University. Its initial work was focused on package leaflet user testing before diversifying to include information design and usability testing.

The company moved from Leeds University to its own premises in May 2018 and established a usability lab in 2019.

It is led by managing director Wayne Middleton, an expert in consumer health information, who joined the company in 2011 before buying it in 2021.

Today, Luto has more than 25 long-standing global pharmaceutical clients and supports work in Europe and America.

Middleton said: “Like many businesses, Covid-19 has caused disruption to our operations and has forced us to change the way we work.

“Our relationship with FW Capital allowed us to stay resilient during this time and has helped us into a strong position going forwards. FW Capital and NPIF were great to work with and really committed to helping us get the funding we needed.”

FW Capital senior investment executive, Anne Blanden, said: “Luto is a profitable and exciting business, steered by a very experienced managing director who has an excellent track record of running this successful business before his ownership.

“This investment was a good opportunity for us to help Luto navigate the effects of Covid-19 to get the business back on track while continuing to pursue its expansion plans.”

The business was introduced to FW Capital by Marie Lang, of GBAC Accountants. Lang is also Luto’s financial director.

She said: “Luto is a well-regarded and innovative business with an ambitious strategic growth plan. This investment will strengthen the company’s position and create new jobs. FW Capital were helpful and professional and we are delighted to have them as a funding partner.”

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