SME finance specialist opens office in city

LDF, which claims to be the UK’s largest independent provider of finance solutions to smaller businesses, has opened a new office in Manchester to cater for the expanding requirement and market for its short-term loans.

It will be focusing on Corporation Tax and VAT funding into the SME sectors. Some 15 account managers have already started at the York Street office, with the intention of a further five joining before Easter.

Headquartered in Ewloe, Flintshire, last year LDF funded £380m to small businesses in the UK with an average loan size of £33,000 across 479 business sectors.

In January this year alone, LDF sourced £53m for businesses, with increasing demand coming from the SME sector for working capital products.

“We are delighted to be opening an office in Manchester,” said Marc Hughes, head of sales Manchester.

“It’s an incredibly vibrant, dynamic and entrepreneurial city that attracts investment from around the globe and the performance of Manchester’s smaller and medium sized businesses is key to its continued success.  

“Being in Manchester also gives access to a new talented workforce, with the calibre of staff who have joined our new venture being exceptional.

“Our track record in providing quick, competitive business loans across sectors from construction, through wholesale and retail, to professional services has been recognised with the Feefo Gold Service accolade, in the 2017 Trusted Service Awards.

“We know that small businesses often struggle to get finance from traditional banks, and can get bogged down in jargon, so we aim to make the process of funding business growth as easy as possible.”

Joining Hughes at LDF’s Manchester city centre office at Colwyn Chambers is Sinead Higgin who has been appointed as sales manager.