Member Article

Eureka! inventors receive £30k funding

A Sheffield team of inventors and designers who develop products parts of hearing aids, toys and hair straighteners, have secured £30,000 of funding.

Dinnington-based AME Group Ltd have worked with Dyson, Proctor and Gamble, Hornby and Jaguar, and have now received funding from the Business Loan from Finance Yorkshire.

Former coal miner Ian Jones established the company, he said: “I used to work as a mechanical engineer in the coal mining industry, but like many people I was made redundant and needed to transfer my skills to a new area. So in 1996 I established AME Group Ltd.

“We offer product design consultancy and a wide range of rapid prototyping techniques. Our customers want prototypes to test parts of their design or to show them off and gauge interest. Many of the models have to be very high quality and like ‘The real McCoy’.

“This latest loan is a culmination of a long and good relationship. We have been very grateful to Finance Yorkshire who have been a great funding partner over the years when we have needed to buy or repair equipment.

“They have really taken the time to understand our business and are a pleasure to deal with, it’s great that Finance Yorkshire is on hand in the region.”

AME have worked with more than 100 Proctor and Gamble, looking at the design of Pringles Crisps packaging and Ariel detergents.

Finance Yorkshire Portfolio Manager, David Ward, said: “We have enjoyed working with AME Group Ltd, the business has developed a top reputation by focusing on achieving the right balance between speed, quality, and cost which has allowed it to retain some high-profile blue chip clients.

“The loan will help AME Group to continue its work and complete the repairs to the five year-old laser which will mean the team can work quicker, continue delivering great results and attracting big name brands to the region.”

Finance Yorkshire provides seedcorn, loan and equity linked investments, ranging from £15,000 to £2m to help a range of small and medium sized businesses to meet their funding requirements for growth and development.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Tom Keighley .