A Welwyn Garden City-based entertainment merchandise company has received £6 million in HSBC funding to expand internationally.

Rubber Road specialises in official merchandise such as collectibles, clothing and gaming accessories for franchises including Harry Potter, Fortnite and Sonic the Hedgehog, and boasts impressive partnership with the likes of Universal, Paramount, PlayStation and Xbox.

And with the business planning to achieve up to 30 per cent growth over the next 18 months, as well as producing new products for the likes of Beetlejuice 2 and Ghostbusters – Afterlife 2, HSBC UK has stepped in with funding to send them global.

"We’ve enjoyed fantastic growth over the last few years with the rise of interest in pop culture, and have been able to engage North American, Asian and Middle Eastern markets as a result of increased demand for merchandise," said Ben Grant, co-founder of Rubber Road.

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"This funding from HSBC UK will help us further our ambitious growth plans, and we’re excited to see where we go next."

Nick Young, area director at HSBC UK, added: "With the UK entertainment industry worth £81.4 billion last year, Rubber Road is part of a booming sector that we’re keen to support.

"The group’s international growth ambitions align with our global footprint so we’re well-placed to support with this funding package as well as with our Global Wallet proposition."