A Humber youth support business has secured a loan from the Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund II to create new jobs and a new app to support its work.
Hull-based Wild Intervention, which was launched four years ago, has secured the undisclosed loan from the fund launched earlier this year to further its work supporting young people aged 16 and over. Caine Wild, who left his career in the Royal Navy in 2016, set up Wild Intervention to bring the benefits of outdoor education to young people and to support children by providing outdoor activity programmes to develop self-confidence, improve wellbeing and learn essential life skills.
The company also provides supported living services for over 16-year-olds, as well as alternative education and outreach services to young people of primary and secondary school age. Since launching, the business has grown rapidly and now has 64 members of staff who work with 48 young people.
READ MORE: {}
During the last year, Wild Intervention began working with young people who have been excluded from school by helping them complete their Education, Health and Care (EHC) plans. Wild Intervention will use the funding to create around 15 new jobs develop an app called Sapling, which will store, monitor and track each person’s progress through their EHC plan.
The funding will also help the company to offer more community activities through its separate business division Wild Opportunities, which offers educational, employment, and community support, with discounted and free activities.
Mr Wild, managing director and founder of Wild Interventions, said: “Young people are the future of our country, which is why it’s so important we’re able to continue successfully supporting as many children as we can. This round of funding plays a central role in this aim by allowing us to develop the technology that will help young people gain the right level of support they need to thrive in the school environment.
“Working with NPIF II and BEF helped us access the finance we needed quickly to support our fast growth, and we are now looking to launch the app by the end of September. There are just over half-a-million children with an EHC plan, and we’re excited to support as many youngsters as we can, with this funding supporting us on this journey.”
The loan marks the first deal for NPIF II – BEF Smaller Loans in Hull and East Yorkshire, which is managed by Business Enterprise Fund (BEF) as part of the Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund II.
Most Read
Duane Walker, investment manager at BEF, said: “Wild Intervention is an inspiring business with a strong social mission that transforms the lives of children and young people in the local community. Despite this, the business was unable to secure the finance it needed to enable growth, create new jobs, and increase the support it provides. Thankfully, NPIF II Smaller Loans is designed to support businesses like Wild Intervention.
“We look forward to Wild Intervention’s continued success which will create 15 new jobs and safeguard 43 jobs. We welcome the opportunity to support more of the region’s businesses with NPIF II – Smaller Loans.”
Simon Cunnington, director at the British Business Bank, said: “Caine has identified a technological gap in his company that the loan will help address to take his business to the next level. As a region that is full of ambition, this is a great first deal in Hull and East Yorkshire and we’re excited to see more complete.”
The £660m Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund II (NPIFII) covers the entire North of England and provides loans from £25,000 to £2m and equity investment up to £5m to help SMEs to start up and scale up..