Overview
Medical rescue, anywhere in the world
Mayday Assistance is a UK-based leader in international medical rescue and repatriation. Craig Huffer has led the company as COO and then CEO since 2012, growing it from a small team to over 70 staff and a network of more than 100 medical professionals worldwide, providing uninterrupted emergency services to travellers in need of medical attention.
The Problem
£40,000 transfers, paid weeks before insurers reimburse
Under Craig's leadership the company was on track to reach £10 million in revenue by 2022, with £20 million projected the following year. Then COVID-19 brought a temporary end to the travel that was Mayday's main business, just as the costs of delivering care kept their scale: air ambulance transfers reach up to £40,000 each, and Mayday typically handles 20 to 30 of these operations every month.
Insurer reimbursements take 14 to 30 days, meaning the company covers significant sums upfront, often for international clients. Funding was needed at short notice and for short periods, a shape that traditional products like invoice finance and term loans were never built for.
The Solution
A facility that matches the urgency of the work
Mayday approached Lenkie in May 2024 and was set up with a credit facility within days of applying. The facility bridges the gap between paying for operations and receiving insurer reimbursements, addressing cash flow at exactly the point it tightens.
Lenkie's flexible fee structure saves costs by charging only when funds are accessed, with no subscription or long-term contract, matching the short-notice, short-duration shape of Mayday's funding needs.
The journey
01
Facility live within days of the May 2024 application
02
Reimbursement gap bridged: operations funded upfront while insurers settle over 14 to 30 days
03
Pay-per-use structure: no subscription or contract, costs only when funds are drawn
"Lenkie's support has been transformative, providing quick access to funds that helped us meet rising demand and manage cash flow efficiently. Their flexible credit facility has been crucial for our growth and recovery. Choosing Lenkie is a decision we've never regretted""
Craig Huffer
CEO, Mayday Assistance
Results
Recovery secured, and an AI-powered next chapter
The facility has become a crucial part of Mayday's financial operations, supporting both recovery and growth. The company is now focused on scaling operations and expanding into new markets, investing heavily in technology, with the ambition of becoming the first in its industry to roll out a fully functional AI-powered assistant.
£40,000
cost of a single air ambulance transfer, covered upfront
20-30
transfer operations handled every month
"We understand how essential it is for healthcare providers like Mayday to have quick and reliable access to capital, especially when lives depend on it. Traditional financing options often fail to match the urgency and flexibility needed in critical care services. Our goal is to ensure that organizations like Mayday can focus on providing vital healthcare access without financial delays, empowering them to meet patient needs promptly and effectively."
Sanjeev Jeyakumar
CEO, Lenkie
Takeaway
Mayday's cash flow problem is the mission itself: emergencies can't wait for insurers, so the company fronts up to £40,000 per transfer, dozens of times a month. A facility that costs nothing until drawn, and arrives within days of applying, fits work where the timing is never negotiable.
