Nottinghamshire-based Express Hose & Fittings, a hydraulic and pneumatic hose manufacturer, has completed a management buy-out, with £368,000 of funding provided by Santander Business Banking (www.expresshoseandfittings .co.uk).

The company offers an extensive range of hoses and fittings to customers in a wide range of sectors, including food processing, construction, manufacturing, agriculture, transport and engineering.

In addition to the funding, Santander has provided an invoice financing facility to ensure that supplier payments are processed quickly and to help Express Hose & Fittings manage its cash-flow effectively.

The company plans to explore international markets, following a recent period of growth, and it is also looking to take on some apprentices.

Express director Paul Toplis said: “With this funding, we will be able to strengthen our position as a market-leading firm at the centre of the supply chain for many UK and international businesses.

“We are now looking to build on this momentum and take the company to the next level; the funding from Santander Business Banking is key for us to realise our plans.”