Last Minute Care & Nursing secures £950,000 funding package from BFS to support national expansion
Bibby Financial Services (BFS), the independent SME funder, has provided a total of £950,000 in invoice finance facilities to Last Minute Care & Nursing franchises, fuelling growth amid rising costs across the sector.
Founded by dementia care specialist, Joseph Willis, and headquartered in Cheshire with 16 franchises across the UK, Last Minute Care & Nursing has been delivering specialist agency staffing services to the health and social care market since 2011. With an annual turnover of £8m, the business has provided over 1.5 million hours of care and support across the UK and offered employment to more than 3,000 health and social care professionals since inception.
The funding package follows a direct approach to BFS, with the deal led by business development manager, Christopher Stanton. Recognising the franchise’s need for greater cashflow and access to working capital to support expansion, Stanton and the team moved quickly to deliver £950,000 in invoice finance across four entities.
The deal has provided new-start franchises in North Surrey, West Yorkshire and West Lincolnshire with the necessary capital to establish themselves in their respective regions, while giving the existing franchise in Lancashire the headroom to overcome increases in National Insurance, and freeing up capital to support future growth.
Across the franchises, Last Minute Care & Nursing currently has 600 registered staff, a number set to grow as each franchise office sets new targets without the worry of cashflow constraints.
Joseph Willis, founder and CEO, Last Minute Care & Nursing said: “We founded Last Minute Care & Nursing to deliver the highest quality care possible and raise the standards of the sector. The business was started with £200 on a credit card, so external finance has always been critical to our success. Since we moved to BFS, we’ve really benefited from the flexible, transparent solution they provide, which aligns directly with our ambitions. I’m incredibly proud of what we’ve achieved so far, and excited for this next phase of our growth.”
David Preece, national franchise support manager at Last Minute Care & Nursing, added: “There are over 110,000 unfilled vacancies in the UK care sector. Every single vacancy represents a gap in support for vulnerable people. At Last Minute Care & Nursing, our job is to help close that gap but rising National Insurance costs have placed significant strain on a sector where personnel are the single biggest cost. BFS was able to unlock an additional £150,000 in cashflow from day one and backed our new franchises by truly understanding our vision. It’s making a tangible difference to the staff we can place and the people we can care for. BFS is helping us overcome headwinds and power our growth across the UK.”
Melanie Ince, head of sales, BFS, commented: “We’re proud to partner with Last Minute Care & Nursing, a business at the forefront of the care industry that upholds the highest standards. Our team worked collaboratively and at pace, gaining a deep understanding of the franchise’s needs and ambitions, to deliver an invoice finance solution that supports both their immediate requirements and long-term growth. We look forward to supporting them as they continue to expand.”
Christopher Stanton, business development manager, BFS continued: “Working with Last Minute Care & Nursing has been a real pleasure. The franchise leaders I’ve spoken with share a vision for growth but face external pressures, not least rising National Insurance costs. We moved quickly to understand those pressures and structure an invoice finance facility that doesn’t just ease the immediate burden but gives the team the headroom to focus on what they do best: placing high-quality staff and delivering great care. With further facilities in progress, I look forward to supporting the franchise as it continues to grow.”