Founder members of the Commercial Funding Alliance are:
Graham Allen
Commercial Money Matters
www.commercialmoneymatters.co.uk
www.purelycommercial.co.uk
Career Snapshot - 1980 financial services. Worked in direct sales, moving into broking, always with one eye on the mortgage market. Initially domestic, but increasingly commercial. Worked with 3 different firms, before setting up this organisation in 1989. I have always worked with a view to the marketing of services. Have done consultancy on both a personal and institutional basis. Our recent plans saw us opening a direct-to-consumer offering, called Purely Commercial. Our longer term view is to open an international arm.
Business Location - Nottingham, in the centre of the country with good communication links nationwide.
Service Provided - Broad spectrum, including commercial mortgages, invoice and asset financing, venture capital, grants, bridging, business assistance.
Lead Sources - Mortgage brokers, IFAs, accountants, solicitors, banks.
Typical Deal - £600,000 commercial property, with broad spectrum of other business
Adrian Coles
Commercial Mortgage Solutions
www.cms-comm.co.uk
Career Snapshot - Been involved in the intermediary market since 1993 covering all spectrums of financial services. I have been arranging commercial funding and providing advice in this sector since 1995. My business provides a platform for intermediaries to obtain quality advice and mortgage placement for their customers. We also deal direct to a wide range of customers
Our wide distribution has enabled us to develop specialist exclusive products for our introducers
I am a passionate about treating customers fairly.
Business Location - Hampshire / Wiltshire borders
Service Provided - Commercial Mortgages sourced from whole of market. In house specialist lending and exclusive specialist products
Lead Sources - Mortgage intermediaries IFA’s Professional introductions such as Accountants, solicitors Commercial Agents
Typical Deal - Average loan size in intermediary market circa £225 k. Deals size varies in specialist markets ie development from £500k thro to £5m
David Griffiths
Sterling Capital Reserve
www.sterlingcapitalreserve.co.uk
Career Snapshot - David is a commercially minded, proactive Chartered Accountant specialising in arranging finance for businesses. After training and qualifying with Ernst & Young, David became Corporate Finance partner at Haines Watts, assisting clients with acquistions, management buy-outs and refinancing.
In 1990, David set up, a professional Commercial Finance brokerage specialising in sourcing finance for clients. This business is well regarded amongst professionals and lenders, and is now the largest finance brokerage in the East Midlands. In addition to raising finance, advice is offered in respect of restructuring debt, distress lending and business turnaround. David also holds non exec utive directorships and advisory role s for a number of business in the Midlands, across a variety of industry sectors.
Business Location - Nottingham – East Midlands focus however a nationwide client base
Service Provided - A whole of market, solution focussed commercial finance brokerage providing traditional products along with niche solutions for today’s market including mezzanine, prepacks and crown debt offerings
Lead Sources - A large introducer base of accountants, IFAs, Banks as well as other brokers. Extensive web presence for specialist areas.
Typical Deal - No such thing as typical – each day brings new and exciting opportunities
Mike Pollard
E1 Finance Direct Ltd
www.e1finance.co.uk
Career Snapshot - Ex banker- 21 years with Natwest - mostly in Lending- running own client portfolio/ credit committee and with many years retail and commercial lending experience. Left in January 2000 to start own commercial finance brokerage which still continues. Set up E1 in 2005 and has seen this grow to over 2000 registered introducers. Strong believer in reasonable fees/great service and clients will return and provide new business recommendations.
E1 is based close to the City- and has strong links with a wide lender panel.
Business Location - Central London/close to the City.
Service Provided - Full range including commercial mortgages, bridging, Business plans and financial forecasts/business advice.
Lead Sources - Clients, Mortgage brokers, IFAs, accountants.
Typical Deal - Debt £500k but range from start ups through to large Hotel/capital projects £10m +.
Nic Rotton
Strata Finance
www.stratafinance.co.uk
Career Snapshot - Nic is a classically trained banker with over 15 years experience, initially with Barclays, before working for HBOS as a New Business Development Manager.
He left to take up a commercial mortgage broking role and now has over 5 years experience out in the real world. He is a solution focused individual and is committed to helping all clients to achieve their goals.
He set up Strata Finance in 2009 as a direct result of the restrictions created by the Banking sector.
Business Location - Nottingham – East Midlands focus however a nationwide client base
Service Provided - Alternate market maker – focussed on bringing individuals with cash to support/replace Banks in Commercial Property transactions
Lead Sources - A growing network of introducers including Accountants, IFAs, as well as other brokers. Very much a website driven solution
Typical Deal - Each deal is unique and willing to chat through client’s scenario before making a decision.
Mike Staight
Mustard Commercial Finance Ltd
www.mustardcommercial.co.uk
Career Snapshot - Spent 19 years with Lloyds Bank in a wide variety of roles including personal and business lending and leasing. Left in 1996 and has since worked as a commercial finance broker. Set up Mustard in 2007 to provide an independent solution to the commercial finance requirements of our clients.
Business Location - Cardiff, but with introducers and clients nationwide.
Service Provided - Full range including commercial mortgages, development finance, bridging, invoice finance
Lead Sources - Mortgage brokers, IFAs, accountants, solicitors, banks, direct.
Typical Deal - £250,000 commercial mortgage. We deal with a full range of requirements from £50,000 to multi million deals.
Darren Willoughby
2XL Commercial Finance
www.2xlcommercial.com
Career Snapshot - Prior to the launch of 2XL over 3 years ago I was a Business Development Manager with a major clearing bank. This involved the sourcing of new business via a network of introducers including IFA’s and other professionals providing me with an intimate knowledge of the broker and IFA sectors and what it takes to do business. I cover the whole spectrum of transactions, working closely with numerous providers. The experience gained from working for a lender is crucial within a “testing” market
Business Location – Cheshire but work on a national basis focusing particularly on the North - North West
Services Provided – Sourcing and advising on all types of commercial finance on both a relationship basis and a transactional one. 2XL’s areas of expertise include MBO’s/MBI’s; Development Finance; Invoice Finance and Asset Finance; Portfolio Management services finance for professionals and commercial mortgages including business loans and overdrafts.
Lead Sources – A wide range of introducers including mortgage brokers, IFA’s, accountants, solicitors, banks etc.
Typical Deal– Wide ranging from a £100k Sandwich Shop to a £10 million commercial mortgage – in excess of £78 million lent last year in total.