Corby business working with Natural History Museum receives major funding boost

Added by Love Business East Midlands | 19 September 2018

UPDATED: 19 September 2018

A Northamptonshire business which supplies metal plan chests and bespoke storage cabinets for a number of top UK museums has received a £100k funding boost, thanks to Enterprise Loans East Midlands (ELEM) and finance from the Midlands Engine Investment Fund (MEIF), supported by the European Regional Development Fund.

Located in Corby, Metalico specialises in manufacturing large format storage for museums, archives and libraries and has supplied its bespoke designs to, amongst others, the Natural History Museum, Tate Britain, the Ashmolean Museum and the National Museum of Scotland.

Jonathan Hall, managing director at Metalico, said:

“Metalico has been trading for more than 30 years and our resellers supply to not only the UK but all over the world. Therefore, the likelihood of seeing our cabinets in any museum or library is pretty high!

“We’ve had some pretty interesting jobs over the years - a particular recent highlight was a bespoke cabinet we made for the Natural History Museum to store some extra-large fossils – but we felt like the business needed to step up its game in order to remain competitive.

“I’d been following the news around the MEIF for a while so once the loan fund was announced we got in touch. We are using our loan funding to look at marketing and branding, but also improving production and product development.

“So far, we have invested in new branding, including a website and marketing collateral. The next step will be to improve the marketing of Metalico, alongside updating our equipment and computer systems.

“We really liked the approach that Enterprise Loans took with the loan application, especially the panel interview which was made up of really interesting people from a marketeer to an accountant. The team’s input really helped shape our business strategy and finalise our application and we’ve already used some of the money we borrowed to implement their ideas.”

Through Enterprise Loans – the fund manager responsible for the delivery of the MEIF Small Business Loans fund in the East and South East Midlands – Metalico has been supplied with £100,000 in funding.

Victoria Copestake, business development manager at Enterprise Loans, said:

“Metalico is well established in the market, but it did need a brand refresh – its marketing materials in particular needed an extensive update. The firm is well organised and boasts loyal staff, with some members of the team having been there for more than 30 years.

“The business works within a very niche area, but I’m confident there is lots of room to grow and attract new clients which is where the investment into updating marketing, branding and improving production will really show it’s worth.”

Lewis Stringer, senior relationship manager at the British Business Bank, said:

“There is a great opportunity for Metalico to expand. The firm has solid foundations, and this finance from the MEIF will see them begin to look at newer, more innovative ways of marketing – opening-up markets and seeing the business enter a new period of growth. I look forward to seeing the progress made over the next few years.”

The MEIF project is supported financially by the European Union using funding from the ERDF as part of the European Structural and Investment Funds Growth Programme 2014-2020 and the European Investment Bank.

Malcolm Johnston, growth hub manager at South East Midlands LEP, said:

“Manufacturing businesses in our area make a major contribution to improving overall economic growth. It’s very important therefore, that we’re able to support businesses in this sector and help them reach their potential. This is where the investments available through the Midlands Engine Investment Fund adds real value and choice to SME owners who have aspirations to grow their business.”

For more information on Enterprise Loans visit www.first-enterprise.co.uk or follow @1st_Enterprise on Twitter. For further information on the MEIF please visit www.meif.co.uk or follow @MidsEngInv.

Picture Caption: Metalico show stand featuring the MaxiDrawer cabinet and new design logo funded by the MEIF

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