Former Engineer Puts Her Tanning Venture On The Road To Success With Help Of Popular Programme

A former engineer has put her unique venture on the path to success with the help of a fully-funded programme.

Louise Cooper was one of the first business owners to access the Tees Valley Securing Investment programme for her firm, uGlow.

The Ingleby Barwick entrepreneur spent years working as an engineer before motherhood saw her change career and move into the beauty industry.

And her uGlow self-tanning water, a self-tanning formula that provides a safe and convenient alternative to traditional self-tanning lotions, sunbeds or over exposure to the sun, has gone from strength to strength since – winning backing from retail giants.

Now the Teessider has used the Investment programme to draw up a plan to take her growing venture to the next level.

Louise said: “I first heard about Tees Valley Securing Investment when I joined the Tees Valley Supply Chain programme through RTC North with the plan of scaling up my business.

“That’s when I was introduced to my fantastic mentor, Gary Lynch, who has been an incredible support. Securing investment has been one of the most challenging aspects of growing my business, especially as a female entrepreneur.

“The introductions Gary has facilitated for the next steps of uGlow’s growth has opened new opportunities and connections that I wouldn’t have had access to otherwise.

“Getting insights from Gary has been instrumental in making my business thrive and has given me the confidence to effectively communicate uGlow’s value to potential investors.

“I now have a clear plan for how the business will grow, when and where to seek investment, and, most importantly, the right type of investment to align with each stage of our growth strategy.”

The fully-funded Tees Valley Securing Investment programme directly connects organisations with grants, funds and private investors, aiming to address the long-standing barriers faced by the region’s businesses in accessing money.

It offers one-to-one support, workshops, online training and an investor hub to SMEs and socially trading enterprises operating across Darlington, Hartlepool, Middlesbrough, Redcar & Cleveland and Stockton-On-Tees, giving them the opportunity to build better relationships with both existing and potential investors.

Mentor Gary Lynch added: “Having supported more than 160 businesses in Tees Valley, we have an in-depth understanding of the various challenges local businesses face in accessing investment.

“Our role is to tailor support for each business so that they can get to grips with exactly what they need to effectively appeal to potential investors. The support offered on this programme is extensive, covering everything from financial planning and forecasting to investment strategy development, setting participants on a pathway to securing the right funding or investment for their business.

“It is great to see the positive impact the programme has had on two local businesses, both of which act as a blueprint for other dynamic SMEs in Tees Valley with aspirations to grow. I’d encourage any organisation in the region to get in touch, no matter what stage of growth or sector.”

No fewer than 168 businesses have received mentoring support since its inception in February 2024 – with most going on to scale-up by improving their processes, bidding for new contracts, and bringing their new products or services to market.

Tees Valley Mayor Ben Houchen said: “Small businesses play a vital role in driving our local economy forward but we know it can be difficult for people running their own firm to get the right help to support their expansion.

“This is why programmes such as Securing Investment are so important. We want our local entrepreneurs to succeed and it’s great to see such a fantastic example of how our support is helping business thrive.”

A final push for businesses to come forward is underway with funding for this round of the programme to end in March 2025.

This support is funded by the UK Government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund and delivered on behalf of the Tees Valley Mayor and Combined Authority by Innovation SuperNetwork, powered by UMi.

Click here to find out more about the programme.