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At UMi, we love shining a light on the people who help make it easier for businesses to do more and go further. This time, we’re getting to know Phil Coates, 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, supporting businesses to find the right finance for their needs and helping them navigate what can be a complex lending market.
Tell us about your career to date
My career journey is a bit of a mixed one. I left school and spent a year at the University of Manchester, but it wasn’t for me. I moved into retail instead, which actually helped shape my communication skills more than I realised at the time.
From there, I joined the fraud department at Yorkshire and Clydesdale Bank before moving into business banking. That led to a role at Barclays as a Business Relationship Manager. I then made the move into specialist lending, before going on to spend just over five years working in commercial brokerage.
That experience gave me a broad view of the lending market and eventually led me to UMi.
What does your current role involve?
My role is all about getting out and about. I spend time meeting lenders, introducers and clients, spreading the word about UMi and, most importantly, helping business owners find the most suitable funding solutions for their requirements.
A big part of my job is helping businesses navigate a busy and sometimes confusing lending landscape, cutting through the noise and identifying options that genuinely work for them.
What makes UMi Get Funding different?
For me, it’s the people and the wider UMi group. The team brings together individuals with a huge amount of experience across different areas of finance, which really matters when you need to think differently or find creative solutions.
UMi Get Funding is also distinctive because of its structure. As a B Corp, we’re committed to doing things properly, with responsible business practices and clear accountability at the heart of what we do. That approach builds trust straight away and, in a competitive market that’s constantly evolving from a regulatory perspective, it really helps us stand out.
What do you enjoy outside of work?
Outside of work, I love spending time with my family. I’ve been with my fiancée, Helen, for 11 years and we have a beautiful four‑year‑old daughter, Hope, so time with them is precious.
When family life allows, I’m a big sports fan, especially football and golf. I’m a massive Leeds United supporter, so I get to games when I can or watch them on TV. And if I’m lucky, I might manage to squeeze in a round of golf.
And finally, tell us one interesting fact about yourself
I’m not sure how interesting it is, but I played semi‑professional football.