In 2017, Tayo Adebisi started selling seasonal toys, gifts, food hampers, sports goods, and electrical items online as part of her brand TilzMart. What began as a small side project quickly revealed potential for double digit growth. After her store sold out on multiple occasions, Adebisi realised that her hobby could grow into an international business. But ambition alone wouldn’t take it global, she also needed export support.
So Adebisi started with free online training, learning about exporting processes and regulations. By 2019, her operation was large enough to require a warehouse and by 2020, she was turning over £1m.
By this point, the business was no longer a side hustle – managing inventory, overseas buyers, and longer payment terms had already stretched the team’s resources, as Adebisi notes. “Covid took a significant hit on the retail sector and, being a young SME, it was even more challenging.” Lockdown and social distancing restrictions caused logistical headaches and the Tilz Prosperitas team fell behind on orders. After processing refunds, the already tricky gap between paying supplier bills and receiving customer payment had widened.
By the end of the pandemic, Tilz Prosperitas had regrouped and its operation stabilised enough to take advantage of the rise in online ordering. But Adebisi’s experience showed that the business would need flexible finance options to continue to grow.
“Export finance is challenging for SMEs, but as a Black-owned business we also faced added hurdles. Accessing the right finance providers took longer, and being outside traditional circles meant proving ourselves twice – first as a fast-growing exporter and then again as a Black entrepreneur,” Adebisi says.
This is where UK Export Finance (UKEF) – the UK government’s export credit agency, which provides loans, guarantees and insurance to help exporters access international trading opportunities – proved invaluable. Adebisi was referred to UKEF through her local Department for Business and Trade team.
Alissia Deane, UKEF’s export finance manager for North and West Yorkshire, was a voice of optimism when Adebisi was feeling demoralised by financing setbacks. “She was the one who came back and said: ‘I think you’ve got something amazing, and I think you’ll be able to do this. Let’s see what we can do.’”
Deane looked at Tilz Prosperitas and provided recommendations tailored to the business’s history and ambitions. “We needed experts with a focused network to accelerate market entry,” says Adebisi. “[Deane] was extremely supportive. She didn’t just provide valuable guidance. She made the introductions. It was through UKEF that we were connected to the finance provider Dynamic Funding, and that then led to us securing financing to support our exports.”
Beyond the introduction, it was access to expertise Adebisi knew she could trust that made all the difference for a company keen to succeed after the setbacks of Covid. “UKEF has the ability to take us into the right export finance ecosystem. And as a growing exporter, that’s important. Knowing where to go, who to speak to, is half the challenge. Alissia was able to provide us with clarity, credibility and direction.”
Of course, to an ambitious SME like Tilz Prosperitas, finance is more than just money. It’s peace of mind and the extra brain capacity it unlocks. Adebisi says: “We were able to relax and really focus on growing. We were also able to secure the right team, focus on the business and clearing the goods [for exporting].”
By the end of 2025, Tilz Prosperitas was reaping the rewards of UKEF’s support in a measurable way. “It drove exports to 60% of our turnover last year. It helped in terms of our export strategy – we were able to secure jobs. It also strengthened our presence in the EU and North America.”
Adebisi advises businesses facing similar challenges not to stop trying, and instead seek support. “We didn’t give up. Don’t underestimate the value of export-specific support,” she says. “It gives you access to tools that are not visible from the outside.”
As a Black business owner, Adebisi especially appreciates the work UKEF is doing to support businesses owned by those from ethnic minority backgrounds. “That is extremely significant and the sort of support we did not have access to in the beginning,” she says. It has also encouraged her to share her expertise with others working with UKEF, not to mention spreading the good word to those not aware of it. “Last year when I was on [the Masters of Scale panel at the UK Black Business Show], I was really giving them a shout out. Access to UKEF has been significant to our business.”
As for the future for Tilz Prosperitas? Its growth is showing no signs of slowing down and exports continue to be key to its success. “Everything for the business is growing and growing. We are looking to go into Canada this year. We’re on track to hit our export target of £9m by 2029 and we will continue to work with UKEF to see how, as a young SME, we can grow and develop.”
Find out more about how UK Export Finance can help your business at: ukexportfinance.gov.uk/from-local-to-global
