Doncaster-based Universal Coatings, which made the steel walkways for the sports complex used by the 2012 Olympics, has secured a £150,000 loan from NPIF-Mercia Debt Finance to help it fulfil new contracts and create seven new jobs (www.universalcoatingsuk.com).

The company provides coatings for everything from swimming pools to steel structures; it also offers a complete fabrication service. It has built many canal bridges, and it specialises in conservation work, such as the restoration of statues and structures at heritage sites.

Universal Coatings was founded in 2007 by two school friends — Phil Bingham, who had a background in the industry, and Phil Pantry, who had previously worked in agriculture. The company currently employs around 18 people.

Mr Bingham said: “Universal Coatings works on projects around the country.

“Structures are fabricated in our Doncaster workshop, and we then send a team to the site to install them. The funding package from NPIF-Mercia Debt Finance was ideal for our needs.”

Peter Sorsby, Investment Manager with Mercia Fund Managers, said: “In the space of just over a decade, Universal Coatings has built a strong track record for its expertise and reliability, and it is now a supplier of choice for many Government and heritage bodies.”