Entrepreneur expands Goole business park with £100k loan

Yorkshire business lender Business Enterprise Fund (BEF) has awarded £100k to Fusion Business Park in Goole, to more than double its units.

The BEF loan has enabled owner and business developer Raj Sodha, secure planning permissions to grow the business park by 10,800 sq ft of letting space.

Within nine months of receiving the funding, Raj has let four of his seven new units with enquiries in for the final three.

Raj said: “At the time of building the business park I was advised that Goole didn’t need or was ready for more business units but I’m proud to say I followed my dream and went ahead with my plans.

“11 years later, against all odds and thanks to support from BEF, the loan has allowed me to strengthen my business proposition and provide other businesses with the fantastic opportunity to start up or expand here in Goole.

“Fusion Business Park is thriving with tenants including our largest occupant, Just Car Clinics Group which is part of the largest car repairs in the UK. We’re also home to a variety of companies which specialise in areas such as signage, tools for the power industry, graphic design and flood damage and emergency repairs.”

With 30 years of experience in financial services, Raj is also working on a range of additional projects.

He added: “I have further expansion plans with the opening of a second business park in the pipeline and I’ve just taken over an autistic care home which will become a day centre to offer support and assistance to those with the condition. I’ll soon turn 67 and should be retiring but I love what I do, it keeps me going!”

The Business Enterprise Fund is a not for profit business lender which has offices in Leeds, Bradford, Darlington and Goole.

Stephen Waud, group chief executive at the Business Enterprise Fund, commented: “We take pride in providing funding and support to Goole businesses.

“Raj has helped develop and grow the business offering in the town and it’s fantastic to hear about the range of industries benefitting from the new, expanded space at Fusion Business Park.”