Freedom Finance to create 40 jobs

LOAN broker Freedom Finance has announced plans to create up to 40 new jobs following its decision to move its HQ.

The company, which has been owned by Moneio in 2008 after its former parent was placed into administration, has recently moved its HQ from Wilmslow to Atlas Business Park in south Manchester, where it has taken a five-year lease on a 7,300 sq ft unit.

Managing Director Nicola Georgiou said that the firm was continuing to grow and was “continually searching for local talent”.

“In fact, this is one of the major challenges we face even in spite of the economic downturn.

“We pride ourselves on being a dynamic, friendly and successful workplace and are always on the lookout for people in the local area that we feel can add to that dynamic.  

“I joined Freedom Finance seven years ago at team manager level and was given the opportunity to progress throughout the business before using the experience I had gained to become managing director,” she said.

“Now I am running the business, I am determined to ensure that the company continues to recognise and reward those individuals who show the drive and determination to succeed.”

Freedom Finance was founded by Rupert Webb in 1983 and grew quickly during the early part of the last decade offering secured and unsecured loans to sub-prime lenders. However, it was later hit by scores of claims from former clients who alleged they had been mis-sold payment protection insurance. The business was later transferred to Moneio – although both were majority-owned by US-based JZ International.

The most recent filed accounts for Moneio show that sales in the year to April 30, 2011, more than doubled to £5.9m, although it declared a pre-tax loss of £512,000.