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In this episode, David and Trevor speak with Paul Marston, CEO of The FSE Group and Non-Executive Director at Allica Bank.

Paul knew from the age of 11 that he wanted to work in banking. Today, that passion continues as he focuses on supporting small and medium-sized businesses that struggle to access finance and what he refers to as the “market gap.”

Many lenders only back businesses that are already profitable and whose owners are homeowners. FSE takes a different approach. Their mandate is to support strong entrepreneurs with realistic business plans and forecasts that show potential for growth and job creation.

Outside of work, Paul’s a big fan of Padel Tennis and Queen. He can even play Bohemian Rhapsody on the piano!

David recently helped a client secure a £200k facility when no other lender was willing to step in. If you are a business owner or Guild member looking for funding, you are welcome to contact David or Paul directly to learn more about the £400m+ in funding available through FSE and other British Business Bank fund managers across the UK.

There are plans to meet up and reminisce with Paul's romantic past at 'Bog Island' in Bath. Everyone is welcome...but no proposal of marriage in guaranteed!

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In this short episode, Dave and Trev share a few updates from The Guild of Business Finance Professionals, including news about new members joining the cause.

Dave takes a break from his holiday to join Trevor for a quick conversation about growing frustrations in the market. They touch on how some lenders and online brokers are still using misleading language to chase commissions or rates, often without making sure business owners get proper advice before applying for finance.

Later this month, they'll be joined by a lesser-known lender connected to the British Business Bank. That episode will be worth a listen.

Enjoy the heatwave, and as always, feel free to share, comment, or check out past episodes.

Support the show

Please subscribe and follow us on LinkedIn, Instagram, YouTube and Twitter/X. Just search for 'Business Finance Matters'.

To listen to the Podcast, all episodes can be found on all the major platforms including Spotify, Apple, Amazon and YouTube and https://bfm.buzzsprout.com/

All comments are welcomed and may be discussed on future episodes and you may get award a BFM mug!

Thanks for listening

Send us a text

Season 3 kicks off with a candid conversation featuring Robert Schogger, co-founder of Metspace London Ltd.

Robert shares his journey from leaving school at 17 to building a successful business, moving from an entry-level "gofer" role in the 1980s to running his own company. A key part of that story is his evolving relationship with business finance...from using post-dated cheques to securing credit lines with established lenders like Arkle Finance of Weatherbys Bank.

A big part of Robert’s success has been his long-term connection with Guild member Nash Giardina at Ideal Leasing & Finance. Their relationship, which spans over two decades, highlights how valuable it is for business owners to work with professionals who truly understand the finance landscape.

This episode dives into the importance of finding the right lender, the right finance product, and how hard that still is in today's market. Robert also shares his frustration with the lack of clear signposting available for business owners trying to navigate the maze funding options.

One question that was asked..."Is the UK the only nation in the world that consists of so many lenders offering so many finance options?" If so, are UK businesses in a unique business finance black hole?

Support the show

Please subscribe and follow us on LinkedIn, Instagram, YouTube and Twitter/X. Just search for 'Business Finance Matters'.

To listen to the Podcast, all episodes can be found on all the major platforms including Spotify, Apple, Amazon and YouTube and https://bfm.buzzsprout.com/

All comments are welcomed and may be discussed on future episodes and you may get award a BFM mug!

Thanks for listening