Fretronics Engineering, a specialist in professional audio electronics design, manufacture and repair, is celebrating a £40k funding boost following orders from artists including Harry Styles, Sabrina Carpenter, Blink-182, Benson Boone, Niall Horan and more for its advanced all-in-one audio redundancy system.
Based in Glasgow, the business has secured a funding boost via the Investment Fund for Scotland to increase production of its technology – the RSW Auto Switching Redundancy System – following strong sales from an initial release of just 50 units.
With a £40,000 loan delivered by DSL Business Finance as part of the British Business Bank’s fund, Fretronics Engineering is now doubling its monthly output to fulfil additional orders and plans to increase production to build up stock levels. The business has also secured partnerships with major retailers in the UK, Germany and the USA, helping to boost sales.
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Manufactured locally in Govan, the RSW is a vital piece of equipment for live artists. It monitors the main audio system during a performance and, if it fails, automatically switches to the backup system so the show continues without interruption. The changeover is seamless, meaning the audience never notices, giving musicians complete confidence on stage.
The idea for the business dates back to founder Olly Warner’s time at university studying electronics, electrical engineering, and music, where his interest in audio technology led to early work servicing and modifying equipment for local musicians. Fretronics Engineering was formally incorporated in 2022 and has since produced custom equipment for global artists including Coldplay, Lewis Capaldi, Biffy Clyro, Slipknot, Avenged Sevenfold, the 1975, and Yungblud.
As the business develops in the coming months, Olly plans to grow the team of four and expand into neighbouring premises to help increase capacity.
Warner said: “Our products are trusted by leading artists and engineers around the globe for their performance, reliability, and build quality, and it has been great to have the opportunity to work with some of the biggest names in the business. The RSW makes sure the music never stops. Its automatic switching instantly moves from the main to the backup system if anything goes wrong, giving artists the security of knowing their performance will always be flawless.
“We’ve been incredibly pleased with the success we’ve seen so far and wanted to capitalise on that momentum to fulfil a growing client base and have more stock available on demand. The funding secured via the Investment Fund for Scotland has been a core part of our ability to grow, providing us with the capital we need to be able to purchase the parts and increase our production levels.”
Launched in October 2023, the British Business Bank’s £150 million Investment Fund for Scotland provides targeted finance to support the growth and development of small and medium-sized businesses across the country. To date, the fund has deployed £36.5 million across 92 investments, supporting 83 SMEs and leveraging a further £33.9 million in private sector finance.
The fund is delivered through its dedicated fund managers – DSL Business Finance, The FSE Group, and Maven Capital Partners, and tailored to business needs: 37 SMEs, including Fretronics Engineering, have received smaller loans totalling £2.3 million, 29 companies have accessed debt finance of £15.2 million, and 18 businesses have secured £19 million in equity investment. It forms part of the Bank’s commitment to fostering sustainable economic growth by supporting smaller businesses across Scotland.
