Hospitality recruiter Hesketh James to create jobs with £90k funding

Hospitality recruitment company Hesketh James has secured a £90k investment to create jobs and fund its expansion plans.

The Manchester-based company said the five-figure boost, comprising £40k from the Government’s Start Up Loans programme and £50k from the Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund (NPIF), will enable it to take on seven new staff.

Hesketh James will also spend the cash on improved IT and marketing.

The funding was provided by Business Finance Solutions (BFS), part of The Growth Company. BFS jointly manages the £10m NPIF - BFS & MSIF Microfinance fund with Liverpool-based MSIF.

Hesketh James was established earlier this year by senior partners Toby Holt and Amanda Hesketh, who have more than 30 years’ experience in the hospitality and recruitment sectors.

Toby said: “The hospitality industry demands the very highest levels of customer care and this funding from BFS means that we can bring our expertise and experience in this rapidly growing sector to develop and deliver the next generation of managers, leaders and candidates at all levels.”

BFS’ Andy Nichols commented: “Amanda and Toby have created a business that brings together their unique insight into the hospitality sector in the North West, an industry that is thriving across the region.

“They needed a finance partner that would help them to grow in response to market demand and we were able to do just that with funding from both the Start Up Loans programme and the Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund that will equip them to continue to expand, both here in the North West and across the UK.”

Greater Manchester Local Enterprise Partnership board chairman Mike Blackburn said: “This investment supports the creation of new jobs and will increase the growth potential of a start-up business serving an important sector within the Greater Manchester economy.

“It is a great example of an entrepreneurial business being given the financial support it needs to achieve its ambitions, in turn unlocking further economic growth and employment opportunities for Greater Manchester.”