SCS Logistics: Supporting rapid growth

Starting-up a business is often considered a very challenging task. But scaling-up a business can be equally challenging in itself. This was the experience of Sandra Cottam-Shea, founder or SCS Logistics, a company specialising in palletised freight distribution.

With its fleet of 10 heavy-goods vehicles and trailers, flanked by several smaller vans, SCS Logistics provides reliable delivery services across the UK and beyond. They offer a range of services ranging from distribution to heavy hauling, international hauling, freight forwarding and warehousing.

At the beginning, back in 2011, Sandra recalls that the learning curve was steep and it took great effort to set the company up and get it running properly. But once in their stride, SCS Logistics has been going from strength to strength, and growing at a rapid pace, tripling staff and doubling turnover over 5 years. This was not without complications however…“We grew too quick” Sandra recalls, “and this kind of growth requires an awful lot of careful management…”

With more and more orders coming in, and the business scaling-up, Sandra was in need of a financial injection in order to be able to deal with the changes. It was in this light that she turned to EZBob, in order to improve her cash-flow as turnover took off. Sandra was able to secure an EU-guaranteed loan, backed by EIF under the COSME programme, the EU’s programme in support of small and medium-sized enterprises.

With the necessary liquidity, SCS Logistics was able to weather the storm and today, the company is in a much stronger position, with better organised and more efficient account management. The continued growth has allowed Sandra to hire two new employees (a driver and a sales director) who have both helped in taking the company forward. Looking ahead, Sandra was to keep growing at a manageable pace, investing in new vehicles and in staff training, constantly improving their levels of professionalism.

Company: SCS Logistics (United Kingdom)

Type of business: freight transportation

EIF financing: COSME LGF

Financial intermediary: EZbob (Orange Money)

For further information about EIF intermediaries in the United Kingdom, please refer to: http://www.eif.org/what_we_do/where/gb