Northern Ireland-based SERE Holdings is providing further medical aviation transport services to the NHS and patients throughout the UK thanks to funding from Paragon Bank for a new specialist aircraft.

Awarded a Blood and Transplant Transport contract by the NHS, SERE's acquisition of a Pilatus PC-12 NGX enables Belfast International airport-based 247 Aviation, a part of the SERE Holdings group, to quickly transport organs and teams of medics and other healthcare professionals throughout the country. It also means 247 Aviation's air ambulance service fleet is also now capable of providing specialist transport worldwide, including the recent repatriation of a patient from Portugal to the UK.

Paragon Bank was pleased to work closely with SERE Holdings to understand what was needed, advise on the funding terms and provide the best resolutions to complete the application to ensure the PC-12 was available as soon as possible so it could start delivering essential services.

Claire Grist, FBO manager for Jet Assist, SERE Holdings' Belfast International airport-based FBO, says: “The acquisition of the PC-12 is paramount to providing first class emergency care when it's needed most, 24 hours a day, 365 days per year. We're immensely proud to be able to support the NHS Blood and Transplant Transport contract as well as aiding in patient repatriation efforts. We are part of something special and hope to continue to support patients in their times of need.”

Stanley Edgar, chairman of SERE Holdings, one of Northern Ireland's Top 100 SMEs has a passion for business and, as a qualified pilot himself, for aviation, and has driven the already established success of his aeromedical transport services through subsidiary companies Jet Assist (Aviation), IMT Medical Transport and 247 Aviation.

Paragon Bank head of aviation Alison Jones says: “I was introduced to Stanley Edgar by Ravenair, the first UK operator to receive UK CAA AOC approval for the PC-12 aircraft, as we had recently financed an aircraft for one of its clients. On speaking with Stanley we learned that he was interested in receiving a quotation on its forthcoming Pilatus purchase, and we were keen to support both his ambition for SERE's growth and the vital work it would be doing with the NHS. Stanley stressed to me that the timescales were very tight but, thanks to the support structures within Paragon, we were able to promptly confirm that we would be able to assist.

“I am tremendously proud of not only how quickly we were able to provide the funding for the PC-12, but also the exceptional work it is doing throughout the UK supporting the NHS and patients at their time of greatest need.”