Nottingham and Derby based first aid training provider, Mini First Aid Nottingham and Derby has landed £5,000 in funding from First Enterprise – Enterprise Loans under the British Business Bank’s Start Up Loans programme to invest in their premises.
The business, which started in 2014, focuses on offering accessible and affordable courses in a local community setting to ensure that life-saving skills are within reach for everyone.
Founded by Maria Matthews, now Managing Director of two employees, the Mini First Aid Nottingham and Derby boast multi-award winning courses in a relaxed and reassuring environment that have all been certified by the CPD Standards Agency. Moreover, they are accredited by the First Aid Industry Body to deliver formal First Aid Qualification courses for those who require a professional first aid qualification.
Maria intends to use the funding from First Enterprise – Enterprise Loans to secure additional premises for Mini First Aid Nottingham and Derby, which is needed for additional storage space for equipment as well as serving as an office base. Additionally, the training space will be opened to other health and safety providers in need of a venue, creating a hub for workplace training, first aid and more.
First Enterprise – Enterprise Loans provides government-backed business loans ranging from £500 – £250,000 for start-ups and SMEs that are unable to borrow from traditional high-street lenders. The not-for-profit organisation reinvests profits into loan funds to further support economic growth and job creation in the local communities.
Maria Matthews, Managing Director of Mini First Aid Nottingham and Derby, comments: “The funding will be instrumental in establishing a dedicated space for Mini First Aid, enabling us to make life-saving skills accessible to everyone in our local community. First Enterprise believed in my business and could see the bigger picture with what I was ultimately trying to achieve supporting me with writing my business plan and was always on the end of the phone if I needed support.”
Forbes Lucas, Business Adviser at First Enterprise – Enterprise Loans, comments: “It was fantastic to have the opportunity to support Maria and her impactful business. From the very beginning, Maria was very clear about her vision for her business and the way in which Start Up Loans would be a great support for expansion. First aid training saves lives, so it’s a privilege for myself and First Enterprise to be a part of Maria’s story and I can only wish her every success.”
Richard Bearman, Managing Director of Small Business Lending, British Business Bank commented: “We are proud to be supporting Mini First Aid Nottingham and Derby to establish a dedicated space and help them to continue to provide first aid training to people of all ages. Maria has created a vital and noteworthy business that is important to the local community and I look forward to her achieving much more success in helping the local residents learn life saving skills.”