At the age of five, Paul Hughes survived a devastating fire that destroyed his family home.
In 2015 he launched his own fire safety business, Fire Safety Managers, and is now delivering lifesaving solutions and training to businesses and education providers across the country from its Chester base.
Fire Safety Managers has just secured £35,000 as part of their latest funding round from NPIF - BFS & MSIF Microfinance - a product fund managed by GC Business Finance in partnership with MSIF and part of the Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund (NPIF).
The eight-strong company specialises in installing fire alarms, fire extinguishers and emergency lighting, alongside conducting risk assessments and fire safety training, including interactive workshops for children.
The £35k investment will now be used to fund at least three new full-time jobs in Chester, to invest in marketing and training and to achieve accreditations that will enable the business to tender for opportunities for larger multi-nationals.
Paul, CEO at Fire Safety Managers, said: “Having been trapped in a serious fire in my childhood I went on to build a 15-year career focused on promoting fire safety and awareness.
“When an opportunity arose a few years ago to start my own business, I was determined to build a company that would deliver a better quality and better value service.
“This funding from NPIF brings us much closer to achieving our vision of being the UK’s trusted provider of high-quality and affordable fire safety, an issue that every business in the country needs to be aware of.”
Fire Safety Managers was introduced to GC Business Finance by DropJaw Ventures in 2017 and continue to receive investment and mentoring from Roy Shelton and his team at DropJaw.
The NPIF project is supported financially by the European Union using funding from the European Regional Development Fund as part of the European Structural and Investment Funds Growth Programme 2014-2020 and the European Investment Bank.
Businesses seeking further information about the Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund can contact http://www.businessfinance.growth.co.uk or call 0161 245 4977
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