About Us  

At The IT Factor, we believe that every business has the potential to thrive—with the right support, guidance, funding and strategy. Whether you're dreaming of starting something new, taking your first steps as an entrepreneur, or growing an established business, we’re here to help you unlock your potential and move forward with confidence.

Why the IT Factor?

The IT Factor is more than just a catchy name. It’s the spark that sets successful entrepreneurs apart: vision, resilience, and the right support at the right time.

We combine deep strategic insight with hands-on experience across funding, compliance, insolvency, and growth planning. Our aim is simple: to help ambitious individuals and businesses go further, faster—and more confidently.

From one-page business plans to in-depth competitor analysis, startup reviews to R&D collaboration, grant funding to growth strategy—we’re building a space where ideas take shape and businesses move forward.

Meet the Founder: Lucinda Matkin

I'm Lucinda Matkin—Chartered Accountant, Licensed Insolvency Practitioner, and founder of The IT Factor. With over 25 years in business finance, I've guided companies through every stage of their journey—from nascent ideas to high-growth transitions, and yes, even through recovery when things haven't gone according to plan.

My Journey

My career began not in insolvency, but in helping businesses grow. At Business Link, I specialised in connecting companies with innovation funding and developing compelling business cases for substantial grants. This experience revealed to me the transformative power of strategic finance and the critical importance of building strong foundations early.

This insight led me into business restructuring, where I honed my skills at prestigious firms including PriceWaterhouseCoopers (“PwC”) and Duff & Phelps. I worked on significant projects like preparing Jessops for flotation on the stock market and managing the administrations of household names like Rover and Adams Childrenswear. These complex, high-stakes environments taught me precisely what separates sustainable businesses from vulnerable ones.

After several years in national practice, I made the decision to establish my own firm. Before launching my independent practice, I briefly joined Derby City Council, where I established and managed the £20 million Derby Enterprise Growth Fund, supporting ambitious businesses and evaluating funding applications from the provider's perspective.

In 2012, I founded LM Insolvency & Advisory, a boutique practice where I guided businesses through financial challenges and restructuring. From advising owner-managed startups to managing complex liquidations, including The Derby Fireplace Company Limited (where we successfully returned funds to all creditor classes), I helped companies navigate their most challenging moments. Most importantly, I recognised how many of these situations could have been prevented with proper guidance earlier in their journey.

Why I Created The IT Factor

This realisation became the catalyst for The IT Factor. I've seen the same patterns repeat throughout my career—businesses faltering not from lack of vision or effort, but from preventable financial and strategic missteps. Now, I'm channelling my expertise into helping entrepreneurs build robust, successful companies from day one.

The IT Factor isn't about crisis management—it's about providing business owners with the tools, insight, and strategy to grow with clarity, avoid costly mistakes, and build something truly sustainable. Whether you're in the earliest dreaming stages, ready to launch, or scaling an established business, my mission is to help you make informed decisions, access the funding you deserve, and truly thrive in business—not just survive it.

Coming Soon

Want to know more about my story, experiences, and what drives me?

Look out for:

  • Lucinda’s Story: A Deeper Dive into My Journey

  • Why Businesses Fail—and How to Avoid It

  • The Grant Gap: What Great Businesses Are Missing

  • What Martial Arts Taught Me About Business Strategy

Dream IT

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Start IT

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Grow IT

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Fund IT

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Research IT

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Develop IT

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Exit IT

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Dream IT • Start IT • Grow IT • Fund IT • Research IT • Develop IT • Exit IT •

OUR MISSION

At The IT Factor, our mission is simple: to deliver expert, practical, and trustworthy business support that empowers entrepreneurs to confidently dream, start, and grow their ventures—with clarity, credibility, and the right funding at every step..

We bring together decades of experience, regulated expertise, and a personal approach to create long-term partnerships with our clients—offering insight, opportunity, and results that go far beyond one-off advice.

We don’t just help businesses get started—we help them go further, smarter.

CORE VALUES

1. Credibility Over Clickbait

We’re not influencers. We’re qualified professionals. Our advice is rooted in regulated expertise—not guesswork or social media hype. Every service we offer is backed by deep knowledge in accountancy, funding, compliance, and strategy. No fluff. Just facts that make a difference.

2. Relationships Before Transactions

We're here for the long haul. By truly understanding your business and goals, we spot opportunities, identify risks, and deliver tailored support that continues long after the initial project ends. Your success is our success—which is why we focus on building partnerships, not just completing transactions.

3. Proactive Support

We don't wait for you to come to us. When we see a grant opportunity, funding call, or potential collaboration that aligns with your goals—we bring it to you. That's the difference between having a service provider and having a true business partner in your corner.

4. Integrity & Accountability

We take our responsibility seriously. Our clients trust us with their ambitions, and we honour that with honest advice, realistic strategies, and a commitment to doing what’s right—not just what’s easy.

5. Collaboration & Connection

We believe great businesses don’t grow in isolation. Through our network of partners, funding sources, centres of excellence, and collaboration opportunities, we connect you with the people, resources, and opportunities you need to take your business to the next level.

We make IT happen.

Real stories Real results.

  • 3Trees Glamping - Funding secured for solar panels, a new pod, and a home office setup—supporting their growth and sustainability goals.

  • Gallery Café, Bakewell - Over £6k grant secured to upgrade to commercial kitchen equipment—improving service speed, food quality, and reducing waste.

  • Hartley Boats, Derby - Over £50k in grant funding secured for CNC tooling and solar panels—supporting innovation and energy efficiency.

Let's Write Your Next Chapter

Let's Write Your Next Chapter

At The IT Factor, we don’t just give advice—we take the journey with you. If you’re looking for credible support, tailored strategy, and someone who sees your business as more than just a transaction, let’s talk.

We’re here to help you unlock your IT Factor.