Keith Williams

Keith Williams is a chartered accountant (ICAEW) who has spent the bulk of his career with UK Steel Enterprise, the investment and business-support arm of Tata Steel (formerly British Steel / Corus). After earlier periods in the accountancy profession and in industry, he joined UKSE in 1990, became an investment manager in 1993, and in 2000 stepped up to Regional Manager responsible for the company's operations across Yorkshire, Humberside and the Midlands (a remit that has also spanned Wales).

UKSE was founded in 1975 to help create jobs and support businesses in areas affected by changes in the steel industry. It invests directly in growing companies through equity investment and loan finance of up to £1 million per deal, and also provides office and light-industrial workspace through its network of Innovation & Business Centres. Over its history, businesses backed by UKSE are credited with helping create tens of thousands of jobs in steel areas. In this role Keith originated, appraised and delivered funding packages and often sat close to portfolio companies as they scaled.

Founders who have worked with him describe a transparent and fast investment process delivered in a "professional and easy-going manner." More recently Keith's public profile lists him as self-employed, providing non-executive, advisory, mentoring and training support to businesses — suggesting a transition from full-time UKSE fund management toward non-executive and mentoring work, while the [hidden] contact reflects his long-standing UKSE association.

• Backs established, growing SMEs rather than pure pre-revenue concepts — companies with proven demand that need capital to expand capacity, win larger contracts, or strengthen their balance sheet.
• Provides flexible equity and loan finance up to £1m, frequently as a minority equity partner alongside existing management.
• Strong bias toward manufacturing, engineering, metal fabrication and business services in the North, Midlands and Wales — consistent with UKSE's mandate to support jobs in steel-producing regions.
• Decision driver is clear growth-and-jobs potential: in his own words on the Tekfloor deal, *"It was an easy decision to invest… The company has grown rapidly by providing excellent service to customers and we believe this is just the start of a bigger growth story."*
• On Architectural Fabrications, he framed the thesis as backing a firm that *"had plenty of opportunities to grow and create jobs but needed to expand its capacity and financial strength."*