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At UMi, we're proud to have a team of experienced advisers who are passionate about helping businesses access the support they need to grow. In this edition of Under the Spotlight, we're getting to know Ian Henry, one of our Business Funding Advisers within the UMi Get Funding team.
What is your role at UMi?
I work as a Business Funding Adviser within the Get Funding team. My role involves meeting with SME businesses to understand their funding needs and helping them identify the lender best placed to support their ambitions.
I also spend time building relationships across the North West commercial lending market and raising awareness of the support available through UMi Get Funding.
Tell us about your career to date
I joined Barclays as a graduate in London in the 1990s. Around 25 years ago, my wife and I decided to leave the capital and relocate north. As a proud northerner, returning home always felt inevitable.
Since then, I've built my career in commercial banking, working as a relationship banker with several major high street banks. Most recently, I worked at Santander, supporting businesses with their funding and growth ambitions before joining UMi.
What does your current role involve?
No two days are the same. My role involves promoting the UMi brand across the North West, working closely with SME businesses to understand their funding requirements and matching them with the most appropriate lenders from across the market.
Ultimately, my focus is on helping businesses secure the right funding and achieving the best possible outcome for each client.
What makes UMi Get Funding different?
What stands out to me is the culture. There's a real can-do attitude across the team, combined with a strong sense of professionalism and a genuine commitment to putting the client first.
We work transparently, collaboratively and always in the best interests of the businesses we support. That level of teamwork is a huge part of what makes UMi different.
What do you enjoy outside of work?
I'm fortunate to live in a fantastic part of the country with easy access to the outdoors and some great pubs.
For me, a perfect day is a long bike ride in the sunshine with a group of friends, followed by a couple of well-earned pints at the end of it.
And finally, tell us one interesting fact about yourself
My first job involved working down a coal mine.