Maven makes new appointment to East Midlands deal team

Maven has strengthened its investment team in the East Midlands with the appointment of Sabrina Mahmood as Investment Manager. Sabrina will lead on deal origination and execution for MEIF II Debt Finance East and South East Midlands, part of the Midlands Engine Investment Fund II delivered by the British Business Bank.

Sabrina joined Maven’s Nottingham office at the end of 2025 and is responsible for sourcing and delivering MEIF II debt investments across the region, as well as managing a growing portfolio of companies. Sabrina will also play a key role in Maven’s Female Founder Funding Programme, supporting women-led businesses in accessing growth finance. As a signatory to the Investing in Women Code, Maven is committed to supporting the advancement of female entrepreneurship in the UK by improving female entrepreneurs’ access to tools, resources and finance from the financial services sector.

Bringing over a decade of experience in Corporate and Commercial Banking, prior to joining Maven, Sabrina spent 11 years at Santander where she focused on new business origination, supporting regional companies with international expansion, and managing SME client portfolios. Sabrina’s banking career has given her a strong understanding of the challenges and opportunities facing businesses at all stages of growth.

Maven has a long-established deal team operating in the Midlands and is a Fund Manager for the £46 million debt fund for the East and South East Midlands, part of the overall £400 million Midlands Engine Investment Fund II. The new addition to the growing team underscores Maven’s commitment to nurturing innovative businesses across the Midlands and driving their growth to realise their full potential. 

Since launch, the MEIF II Maven Debt Finance has played an ongoing role in transforming the finance landscape for smaller companies, backing a range of diverse businesses across the region, including: Kalas Packaging, a manufacturer of printed packaging for the food, horticulture and retail sectors, based in Boston, Lincolnshire, ShawPak, a UK manufacturer of packing equipment for medical devices based in Castle Donington, Leicestershire, Acres Insurance Brokers, a specialist agricultural insurance broker based in Rushden, Northamptonshire, and Lemon and Lime Interiors, a successful home staging business based in Melbourne, Derbyshire.

“We’re delighted to welcome Sabrina to our expanding team. The response to MEIF II has been fantastic and we are exceptionally busy so Sabrina’s appointment will help in continuing Maven’s success in identifying and supporting high-potential businesses across the East and South East Midlands. We have always recognised the importance of having a genuine local presence with a team of passionate, experienced professionals on the ground to help support our SME community."

Jonathan Lowe, Partner - Regional Debt Funds at Maven

“I am proud to be part of the MEIF II team, working with local businesses to help them navigate the challenges and opportunities of their growth journeys. In the world of finance, diversity remains a challenge, and the underrepresentation of women in is a well-known issue so I’m delighted to contribute to Maven’s initiatives supporting female entrepreneurs."

Sabrina Mahmood, Investment Manager at Maven

As Fund Manager of MEIF II - Debt Finance East and South East Midlands, Maven can provide business loans from £100,000 to £2 million to support both earlier and later stage businesses with real growth potential across a range of sectors. If your business, or the business you advise, is considering debt finance to support future growth please, click here.