You have an opportunity to grow your business, and you have already started researching potential providers. The question now is: how do you put yourself in the strongest position to secure the funding you need?

At UKSE, we have supported ambitious businesses across former steel areas for 50 years. What we have learned is simple: being prepared does not just attract funders, it helps you find the right funder.

Tip One: Get Your Basics Right

Most investors will need some essential information to understand where your business is today and where you are heading. That usually means a business plan, your historic accounts, and your financial forecasts.

Your business plan might be a detailed written document or an informal slide deck. What matters is clarity. Explain your long term vision for the business, set out how you plan to achieve growth, and describe the steps that will take you from where you are now to where you want to be.

Funders also want to understand why your plans will succeed, so tell them what makes your business different. That could be the unique selling points of your product or the experience and skills your team brings. There is no need to exaggerate, but don’t undersell yourself either!

On the financial side, it is standard to provide your most recent statutory accounts, your current management accounts, and your forecasts. Investors usually look for a clear picture of how the business has been performing and how well your growth plans stack up.

Top Tip: Keep your financial information in a consistent format. It helps investors understand your performance quickly, without having to compare documents that all look different.

Tip Two: If You’re Not Sure, Ask!

No one expects you to have all the answers, especially when you are preparing for investment. There’s plenty of help out there, and it often starts with a simple conversation. Speaking directly with local funders, ideally in person, can make things much clearer than trying to navigate everything online.

UKSE, like many funders, is here to help businesses grow. We are happy to offer guidance, signpost to useful resources, and point you towards people who can support you.

Pulling together a business plan and financial information is not always straightforward, and that’s okay. Local business support organisations or accountants with the right expertise can often help improve your chances. Most are happy to have an initial conversation.

Top Tip: Talk to a trusted adviser or another business owner who has been through the process. A referral from someone you know can make starting the conversation much easier.

Tip Three: What Else Should Be in My Plan?

You’ve outlined your long term vision and explained how you plan to achieve success, but what else?

Include a summary of the different parts of your business, from purchasing and production to marketing and sales. It may sound obvious, but introduce the people who are key to delivering your growth. Investors back people just as much as they back ideas.

It also helps to be open about the risks your business faces. Every business carries risks, and what matters is showing you understand them and demonstrating what you are doing to mitigate them. Think about the external pressures that could affect performance too, not just internal ones.

Top Tip: Securing investment is not only about raising capital, it is about building trust and showing clarity. Investors back teams who can deliver the plan. Don’t underestimate how important the Key Personnel section of your plan or slide deck really is.

Tip Four: Is There Anything Else That Can Improve My Chances of Accessing Funding?

A little research goes a long way. Most investors have eligibility criteria, so it is useful to understand what these are before you apply.

At UKSE, for example, we provide an eligibility checker to help businesses understand if we are the right match. One of the things we look for is positive social impact, often demonstrated through local job creation. If you can, make sure your plan speaks to the aims of the funder as well as your own.Top Tip: Investors will spend time getting to know your business, and it makes sense to do the same in return. Exploring a funder’s website and understanding what they are looking for can not only strengthen your application but also help you decide who you actually want to work with.