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The financing has enabled the firm to supply pharmaceutical products to clients in the UK, Europe and Australia
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Funding will help to increase workforce by 20% and add additional manufacturing capacity
GMP Manufacturing Ltd (GMPM), a pharmaceutical manufacturer based in Kingston upon Hull, has secured over £500,000 in funding support from White Oak UK, a non-bank specialist in SME financing. The funding was backed by UK Export Finance (UKEF) – the government’s export credit agency. The new finance has enabled the company to meet growing international demand, while continuing to expand its UK operations.
The financing from White Oak was supported by UKEF’s General Export Facility (GEF) – a finance guarantee designed to boost export capabilities for SMEs.
Established in 2018 on the former Seven Seas site in east Hull, GMPM’s workforce has grown by over 40% in eight years, with roles ranging from apprenticeships to senior leadership. The company manufactures a wide range of medical products on behalf of clients in the UK, Europe and Australia, while also developing and supplying items under its own brand, including Aseptic, an alcohol-free sanitiser effective against influenza and COVID-19.
Access to finance with support from White Oak and UKEF has been instrumental in accelerating GMPM’s growth. Looking ahead, GMPM plans to increase its workforce by a further 20%, as it seeks to expand into African markets. The company is also extending its research and development capabilities and investing in new manufacturing technologies, including 3D printing platforms for personalised medicines.
Chris Bryant, Minister for Trade, said
It’s fantastic to see a business like GMPM thrive, creating jobs and driving economic growth in Yorkshire as well as revitalising a local plant.
We are a pro-business Government and will continue to back businesses to scale-up, helping innovative firms like GMPM to export their products across the globe.
Manuel Fantin, Export Finance Manager for South Yorkshire at UKEF, said
GMPM’s story should inspire many SMEs, who need the motivation to take the next step in their business.
From taking an east Hull plant that closed after 80 years of history, bringing it back to life with 30 employees, and now, more than doubling in size in under a decade, GMPM’s trajectory of growth is only going up and we look forward to continuing to work with our partners at White Oak to see them succeed even further in both scale and global capability.
Giby George, CEO at GMPM, said
Support from UKEF and White Oak has played a pivotal role in accelerating our growth.
We are proud to be investing in advanced manufacturing capacity in Hull, creating high-quality jobs and career opportunities at every level, from apprenticeships and technical training to senior leadership positions, while strengthening the UK’s pharmaceutical manufacturing capability.
Andy Davies, Managing Director at White Oak UK, said
Our support for GMP Manufacturing demonstrates our commitment to providing growth capital to innovative UK businesses, wherever they are based. GMPM’s story is a compelling example of what British SMEs can achieve with the right financial backing – from a single site in Hull to supplying markets across Europe and Australia.
We are proud to work alongside UK Export Finance to help businesses like GMP Manufacturing unlock their full export potential and create quality jobs across the UK.
GMPM’s story demonstrates how UKEF support can help UK manufacturers strengthen their export capability, create highly skilled jobs in all parts of the country, and compete on the global stage – in line with the government’s plans to support UK businesses and drive economic growth.
UKEF is backing businesses, ensuring its support is accessible to all businesses regardless of location, size or ownership. UKEF aims to maintain a minimum of 80% of the businesses it supports based outside of London, while year-on-year increasing its support for underserved groups, including women and ethnic minority-led businesses.