Luxury food and drink gift company Imp & Maker has secured £200,000 in funding from the Midlands Engine Investment Fund II to enhance its operations and sustain its growth.
Founder Sarah Louise Fairburn, with over 20 years of experience in food retail and production, launched the company in 2020 to bring innovation and quality to the gifting industry.
Sarah’s expertise and commitment to sustainability and social impact are central to the brand’s values. Beyond her business, she is an active advocate for sustainability and women’s empowerment, serving on the Greater Lincolnshire Food Board and UK Food Valley.
The funding will be allocated toward stock, marketing, and staff costs, with a primary focus on enhancing operational efficiency and driving long-term growth.
She said: “It was clear that my business needed additional finance to achieve the ambitious seasonal plans we had as Christmas approached. Whilst I had started discussions with banks, I wasn’t getting the result we needed.
“FundingRound played a pivotal role in positioning our requirements, introducing us to First Enterprise and securing the funds which will support our success. Lenders like First Enterprise are much needed to support the backbone of UK businesses! And we will always be working with FundingRound moving forward as they are the best at understanding entrepreneurs.”
Julia Wilkinson, Director, FundingRound Ltd added: “The current market requires lenders who will support expanding SMEs based on forecast-led growth, particularly bearing in mind the environment they’ve operated in over the past few years. CDFIs like First Enterprise play a crucial role in supporting businesses like Imp & Maker, and we are pleased to have First Enterprise fund them and other clients.”
