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Professional Cricketer secures £56k funding to grow his Sports Coaching Business to the next level

Professional Cricketer secures £56k funding to grow his Sports Coaching Business to the next level

A Nottingham-based sports coaching company, Kaizen Sports Group, has successfully raised £56k funding for its business expansion.

With their unwavering love for educating and enhancing growth-focused sport individuals and organisations, the professional cricketer – entrepreneur Anthony and his partner Katie are determined to move the business forward in leaps and bounds.

Kaizen Sports Group secured finance from First Enterprise – Enterprise Loans through Big Society Capital (BSC)’s Community Investment Enterprise Facility (CIEF) backed by the Recovery Loan Scheme (RLS). The funding will enable the business to establish a training crease where players can receive one-on-one coaching and support in cricket, as well as install training creases and nets for other clubs wishing to upgrade their facilities.

Delivering world leading bespoke coaching solutions is Kaizen Sports Group's top priority. The business is making innovations in the field of high-performance facilities, sports infrastructure, and coach development. In addition, women's cricket in the United Kingdom is the fastest growing women's sport, so the timing for this giant leap is ideal.

Anthony, a 25-year professional cricket player for South Africa, Warwickshire, and Derbyshire, is eager to pass on his experience to aspiring players of the sport. Katie, a business manager and 7-year professional hockey player, is keen to provide the essential guidance to keep the business moving in the right direction. There is no doubt that their joint effort, along with the significant finance provided by First Enterprise - Enterprise Loans, will propel the Kaizen Sports Group to new heights.

Anthony and Katie, Founders of Kaizen Sports Group, said:

“The loan really helped both sides of our business. Having recently relocated the cricket coaching business to our new premises, we were able to build a state-of-the-art training crease and nets that will greatly help us in developing the next generation of cricket professionals. The business also installs these facilities for other cricket clubs, and the loan has helped in securing the best equipment and materials we need, ready to fulfil our busy order book for the 2023 cricket season and beyond."

Stefan Nycz, Investment Manager at First Enterprise – Enterprise Loans, commented:

“It's been an absolute pleasure to work with Katie and Anthony. They are clearly committed to their business, and they both love what they do. It’s warming to think that this funding will be helping to develop new talent for future generations of female and male cricketers.”

Victoria Crisp, Investment Manager at Big Society Capital, commented:

“Businesses like Kaizen Sports Group play a vital role in society by creating and sustaining jobs for local people and supporting local economic activity – very often for disadvantaged areas. However, getting the finance they need from high street banks is becoming increasingly challenging due to current economic conditions.

This is where Community Development Finance Institutions (CDFIs) like First Enterprise come in – which help make finance more accessible to underserved founders and business leaders. We are delighted to have supported First Enterprise in making this investment through our CIEF fund, and we look forward to seeing how Kaizen Sports Group continues to thrive.”


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