Tanning entrepreneur shines with business boost

A Tees Valley entrepreneur is taking her self-tanning venture to the next level with the help of a fully funded business support programme.

Former engineer Louise Cooper, founder of uGlow, turned to the Tees Valley Securing Investment programme to scale up her innovative self-tanning water, which has already won backing from major retailers.

Louise said: “I first heard about Tees Valley Securing Investment when I joined the Tees Valley Supply Chain programme through RTC North with the plan of scaling up my business.

“That’s when I was introduced to my fantastic mentor, Gary Lynch, who has been an incredible support. 

“I now have a clear plan for how the business will grow, when and where to seek investment, and, most importantly, the right type of investment to align with each stage of our growth strategy.” 

Mentor Gary Lynch added: “Our role is to tailor support for each business so that they can get to grips with exactly what they need to effectively appeal to potential investors. 

“The support offered on this programme is extensive, covering everything from financial planning and forecasting to investment strategy development, setting participants on a pathway to securing the right funding or investment for their business.”

The programme, funded by the UK Government and delivered by Innovation SuperNetwork and UMi on behalf of the Tees Valley mayor and combined authority, has supported 168 businesses since its launch, helping them access funding, improve processes and bring new products to market. 

Tees Valley mayor Ben Houchen added: “Small businesses play a vital role in driving our local economy forward, but we know it can be difficult for people running their own firm to get the right help to support their expansion.

“This is why programmes such as Securing Investment are so important. 

“We want our local entrepreneurs to succeed and it's great to see such a fantastic example of how our support is helping business thrive.”

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