We’ve worked closely with nesma, a leading provider of marketing and communications training, to support their ambitious growth plans and investment journey.
Reflecting on our work together, we spoke with Veronica Swindale, Managing Director, and Paul Sutherland, Commercial Director of nesma, to find out how our strategic financial support has helped them scale with confidence.
Evolving to meet market demand
For over 15 years, nesma has been a trusted name in professional marketing and communications training. With a strong reputation across the North East, the team built a loyal client base by delivering high-quality accredited qualifications. As the marketing landscape evolved, so did the needs of their clients.
To stay ahead of the curve, nesma decided to expand their offering. They developed new short courses, masterclasses, and bespoke training solutions to better serve modern marketing professionals.
At the end of 2024 nesma secured funding from NEL Smaller Loans, part of the £660 million Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund II (NPIF II).
“We’ve always been passionate about empowering businesses and individuals with the right marketing skills,” said Veronica.
“But we recognised that to continue making an impact, we needed to evolve with investment. Expanding our course offerings, growing our team, and investing in the right systems was a huge leap forward. Blu Sky was instrumental in helping us understand the financial implications of these decisions and ensuring we could scale sustainably.”
A strategic approach to investment
Having known both Veronica and Paul for years, we knew the business very well. So when the time came to seek investment, we were able to guide them through the process with clarity and confidence.
“They’ve helped me with a significant funding raise historically, and their knowledge of the investment process made them the obvious choice.” Paul explained.
“What really makes Blu Sky stand out is how they go beyond the numbers. They don’t just prepare financial documents, they work as a true partner, helping us think through the long-term impact of our decisions. Their support gave us extra confidence in our decisions, and they genuinely care about our success.”
Our team worked closely with nesma to develop a compelling investment proposal that clearly showcased their growth strategy and aligned with their future goals whilst meeting funders’ expectations.
“They didn’t just take our figures and plug them into a spreadsheet,” Veronica shares. “They took the time to truly understand our business, our vision, our challenges, and our potential.
“Blu Sky helped us structure our application in a way that really stood out to funders. Their insights and attention to detail made a huge difference, and I can honestly say their guidance was invaluable” Paul added.
Accelerating growth with confidence
With investment secured, nesma has been able to accelerate its expansion, growing their national presence and launching new training programmes that address the ever-changing demands of the marketing industry.
“This has been the strongest financial quarter we’ve had in the last three years,” Veronica notes. “The choices we’ve been able to make with Blu Sky’s support have really helped us achieve this.
“Their guidance has given us the financial foundation we need to grow with confidence. Having their expertise on hand has made an incredible difference, giving us peace of mind and the ability to focus on our long-term ambitions.”
Affordable corporate finance advice
Beyond securing investment, we continue to play a strategic role in nesma’s growth. We do more than the day to day accounting, we build long-term partnerships with our clients, ensuring they have the financial insights needed to scale effectively.
“Blu Sky don’t just deliver a service and move on. They’re invested in our success, always thinking ahead and helping us balance financial strategy with the realities of scaling. They’ve been a fantastic sounding board for key decisions, and their proactive approach means we’re always a step ahead when it comes to financial planning.” Paul explains.
“Normally, corporate finance advice at this level is incredibly expensive,” Veronica adds. “But Blu Sky makes it affordable, without compromising on quality or expertise. They’ve given us access to top-tier financial guidance which has been instrumental in helping us scale successfully.”
A trusted long-term partnership
Unlike many financial service providers, our work doesn’t stop once the funding is secured. We remain actively involved in nesma’s journey, providing ongoing financial clarity and guidance as they continue to scale.
For nesma, this is just the beginning of an exciting new chapter. We are already in discussions about their next stage of expansion, and we’ll be there every step of the way to support them.
“The advice, insight, and ongoing support have made a tangible impact on our success, and I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend them to any business looking to scale.” Veronica concludes.
Looking for Strategic Financial Support?
If your business is scaling and you need financial expertise to support investment, expansion, or long-term planning, we’re here to help.
We work closely with ambitious businesses to provide tailored, strategic financial advice that enables sustainable growth. Get in touch today to find out how we can help your business scale with confidence.
