Member Article

UKSE West Midlands team steps up to support local sport

The West Midlands team of business lender UKSE has stepped up to support sport in its local community this summer with volunteering and sponsorship.

UKSE, which offers firms strategic loan and equity packages to create jobs and generate growth, has supported a range of events aimed at increasing physical activity across the West Midlands.

In August UKSE regional executive Mike Lowe volunteered four days of work time to support the International Blind Sport Federation World Games in Birmingham, which saw more than 1,250 blind and partially sighted athletes take part in 11 sports. He worked a number of shifts at the University of Birmingham to assist athletes from all over the world.

Mike commented: “During my four days I had the pleasure to meet some wonderful people from all over the globe, all with great stories to tell and all so passionate and driven to represent their country in their chosen sport.

“I’m pleased to have played my small part in making the athletes experience a positive one in Birmingham, but I feel that I have learnt so much from them as the whole games experience has been humbling, fascinating and inspirational.”

UKSE West Midlands also sponsored the Dudley Grand Prix, a British Cycling event that took place on Black Country Day on 14 July, along with Boldmere Falcons FC in Sutton Coldfield, a non-profit volunteer-run club that makes football available to girls and boys up to the age of 18.

The West Midlands team’s contribution to the local community is part of UKSE’s commitment to making a difference across all the regions it supports.

Since 1975 the organisation has given more than £10 million to community projects nationally including initiatives to get people back into work, develop young people’s skills and fight drug and alcohol problems. UKSE staff get involved in local projects, visiting schools and universities or working in partnership with development and enterprise agencies.

UKSE West Midlands area manager Steve Grice said: “UKSE places responsible business at the heart of everything it does. We all have a responsibility to look after the communities in which we live and work and to create a more sustainable future.

“Mike and I really enjoy helping out in our local community. We have more community initiatives in the pipeline and look forward to getting involved with further events and community groups in the future.”

The West Midlands team also supports UKSE’s national community and charity initiatives. On 21 June Mike joined forces with 15 other members of UKSE to undertake the 20-mile Three Castles Walk in Monmouthshire, Wales, to raise £5,600 for Cancer Research UK.

UKSE is a Tata Steel subsidiary offering strategic loan and equity packages of up to £1m to generate growth, create local job opportunities and bolster the economy across Birmingham, the Black Country, Coventry, Staffordshire and Shropshire.

Based in Cannock, UKSE’s local team is engaging with firms wanting to grow, innovate and bring employment opportunities to the West Midlands.

Since 1975 UKSE has invested over £110m, supporting 7,650 businesses and stimulating the creation of an estimated 82,000 new jobs.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Osborn Communications .