Six-figure-loan supports growth plans for professional services firm
A Leeds-based professional services company is moving rapidly forward with its ambitious growth plans with support from a six figure loan.
Alpaca offers legal, HR and financial advice. Founded by Yorkshire entrepreneurs Richard Turner, Rob Ormiston and Rob Ashall, the three-year-old business will use the funding package from HSBC to expand its team of 15 specialist consultants, creating three new jobs.
It will also enable the business to establish new services, including HR support and business development, and relocate to new premises in Leeds City Centre.
Jo Dickinson, HSBC’s Area Director for West and South Yorkshire, said: “Alpaca is a forward thinking firm that works closely with businesses and entrepreneurs to help them grow and prosper. By providing funding to support Alpaca’s expansion plans we look forward to seeing this business also grow and prosper across the region and beyond.”
Richard Turner at Alpaca said: “We have a successful track record in providing invaluable advice and support to businesses. Financial backing from HSBC – particularly the enthusiasm of James Coyle, means that we can expand our expertise and grow our team of business support specialists which puts the business in a strong position for the future.”
The deal was completed by James Coyle, HSBC’s Commercial Manager for West and South Yorkshire.
Alpaca has also recently recruited three new board-level recruits. Sarah Shay has started as chief commercial officer, Jane Wilson as human resources director and Harriet Cowie as financial director.
Shay was a corporate banker and business developer over a 17-year career at Santander, Barclays and RBS and now takes up a role that allows her to work school hours only during term-time. Wilson held previous roles at West Yorkshire Playhouse and Addleshaw Goddard and Cowie leaves a post at Q Hotels to take a role also working four days a week.
Following the recent acquisition of Genus Law, two new solicitors also join the team working on flexible terms. Sally Gwilliam and Sophie Basso each work four days around school hours.
Richard Turner, CEO of Alpaca, said: “Whilst it’s a cliché that millennials now expect flexible ways of working, we’ve found a similar demand at senior levels, with more experienced employees wanting a better work-life balance. Frankly they just never believed it possible within a traditionally staid, 9-5 (or perhaps 9-9) industry.
“We built Alpaca without silos because clients told us they were sick of the wasted time and money that comes from instructing multiple advisors, each in their own professional bubbles. We also extend that disruptive model to ways of working in professional services.
