E-learning software company, Expert LMS, has secured a major new US client after funding support from BCRS via the British Business Bank’s Investment Fund for Wales enabled it to accelerate its expansion into the American market.

The Swansea-headquartered business has agreed a deal with one of the largest franchise-led hospitality companies in the USA, the all-you-can-eat buffet and grill chain, Golden Corral. The deal will see Expert LMS providing its bespoke e-learning platform to support Golden Corral staff working for the hospitality business across its 350+ locations in the USA and Puerto Rico.

Expert LMS has grown significantly in recent years, with community lender, BCRS Business Loans, supporting its growth ambitions with funding via the British Business Bank’s £130m Investment Fund for Wales. Having gained traction in the States last year, signing its first US client, LA-based Mountain Mike’s, the latest support of £50,000 has enabled Expert LMS to invest in USA-based staff who are working on both the software and business development sides of the business.

Helen Bowden, managing director of Expert LMS, explains:

“We have worked incredibly hard to get to this point, and having the initial support of BCRS allowed us to focus efforts on marketing to USA-based businesses. We are delighted to now onboard Golden Corral and have been working over the past six months to develop bespoke software that has been integrated across various social media platforms, ensuring colleagues can gain the most from the platform.

“This latest funding support has meant that we have been able to focus on recruiting USA-based staff and we are thrilled that this is already having traction.”

Expert LMS develops its own cutting-edge learning management platform, allowing businesses and individual users to take full control of their e-learning, communications, performance and operational checks. The platform hosts video content, enables companies to utilise pre-built e-learning modules or develop bespoke courses, and supports multiple languages, making it ideal for organisations with diverse, global teams.

Expert LMS worked with BCRS Business Loans’ Business Development Manager, Niki Haggerty-James, who commented:

“Expert LMS first came to us when they were at a pivotal point in their business journey – they knew the opportunities that came in the United States and wanted to increase the presence of the business there to capitalise on them.

“The initial support allowed them to do just that, and we are delighted to have helped them further. Signing a client like Golden Corral is testament to the effort and drive and it marks a significant step.”

Bethan Bannister, Senior Investment Manager, Nations and Regions Funds at the British Business Bank, said:

“Expert LMS is a great example of a Welsh business with the ambition to take its expertise and technology into international markets. Securing a major client such as Golden Corral is a significant achievement and demonstrates the potential for Welsh businesses to compete and succeed on the global stage, while investing in people and accelerating its growth.”

Expert LMS has a substantial client base which includes UK-based Gaucho, the San Carlo Restaurant Group, Turtle Bay Restaurants and SUSHISAMBA, whilst the company is working with Mountain Mike’s, which currently has around 300 franchised venues, and now Golden Corral. Expert LMS is eyeing substantial growth, with a target of reaching 500,000 users within the next five years.

The British Business Bank backed Investment Fund for Wales operates across the whole of Wales and includes a range of finance options with loans from £25,000 to £2 million and equity investments up to £5 million to help small and medium-sized businesses start up, scale up or stay ahead. BCRS Business Loans is managing the smaller loans part of the fund (£25,000 to £100,000.) FW Capital is responsible for larger loans (£100,000 to £2 million) and Foresight manages equity deals (up to £5 million).

Having worked with SMEs unable to access finance from traditional sources in the West Midlands since 2002, BCRS Business Loans has expanded into Wales to help smaller businesses prosper and thrive through the fund, which was officially launched in Cardiff in November 2023.

Since BCRS was founded as a community development financial institution in 2002, it has provided loans worth more than £100 million to businesses across the West Midlands and Wales. A social impact report for the last financial year showed BCRS lent £10.2m to 112 businesses, safeguarding 895 jobs and creating 260 roles, adding £53m in value to the economy of the West Midlands, surrounding regions and Wales.