Corporate asset finance – it may sound a bit impersonal, but at Arkle Finance Ltd, it’s just the opposite – it’s people and their understanding of the business world that are at the heart of the service. Those who deliver services today, and those who might well be delivering them in years to come.
Customer service, clear strategy in an evolving market and an understanding of the importance of education in generating tomorrow’s experts all combine to drive the Wellingborough company to the next level.
Arkle, established in 1997 to provide asset finance to businesses of all sizes across the UK, is part of Weatherbys Bank, which traces its roots back more than 250 years. Having recently celebrated its 25th anniversary, it’s now the future that is important for Arkle and its Executive Director Daniel Bailey.
“Although Arkle is 25 years old, because we are part of such a long-established organisation we actually look much further ahead and ensure that the business is going to be in great shape today and resilient in the long term,” said Daniel. “And with the business in its 25th year, now is the time develop our strategy to take us into the next phase.
“That involves two key areas – firstly, the appointment of the highly experienced Keir Bradie as our new Commercial Director, and secondly, working more closely with the local business and education community to support and learn from them, because we know how much everyone can benefit.
“Despite the growth in hybrid and remote working and the benefits that brings, most of the team at Arkle were educated in Northamptonshire and we recognise how much we rely on the local education sector, so now we’re looking at ways we can work with schools – state, academies and private, as well as further education – to support the workforce of the future.”
Keir Bradie’s arrival in July to head up a growing sales team will see him draw on his experience with the network of broker and intermediaries across the UK to increase Arkle’s reach and further build strong relationships .
Arkle specialises in asset finance and leasing, helping businesses large and small, as well as private individuals, obtain equipment, vehicles and assets they need to grow and develop. A wide range of financial products, each tailored to suit customers’ specific needs, are offered through a network of brokers that stretches from Scotland to Cornwall and into the Republic of Ireland.
Keir said:
“I have worked in financial institutions for many years, and I had a long association with Arkle anyway, so it’s exciting to be on board to drive the sales strategy and support Daniel and allow him some space to be more strategic as we go forward so that we can scale up within the marketplace.
“The sales team is growing, and we want to develop relationships with our network of brokers because our unique way of doing business is something ambitious businesses should be able to access though their brokers. We’re filling a niche that has been left by the major banks not always providing the service levels they used to in terms of understanding the needs of client business. Firms, particularly SMEs, need a route to funding and the network of brokers that we support are providing the specific help and advice to this crucial sector of the UK economy
“A lot of the brokers we work with are SMEs themselves, that vital sector between the domestic banks and the big corporates and many of them have specialist areas, whether that’s a particular business sector or a geographical area, and by establishing good relationships with a wider broker base, we can improve our offering to clients.”
Despite the increasing use of technology and automated application systems, Arkle still relies on an experienced credit team considering the merits of each application. Taking time to understand the full story before making a decision about funding, rather than adopting what’s known as a ‘computer says no’ approach.
Daniel Bailey said:
“One thing Arkle is good at is understanding what makes a particular business model successful so that we can come up with a package that best fits its needs, and that relies on delivering a personal service, continuity of service and one that moves quickly towards a decision.
“Technology is moving fast and young people coming into our business have grown up with it, and we need to tap into that, which is why we want to get more involved in the local education sector. We have already provided financial help for schools with things like modular classrooms, minibuses and smartboards, but we also want to join forces to provide mentoring and careers advice.
“And, of course, while we can support the education sector, we also know we can learn from it. We’re not just telling them what we can do for them, we want to be part of what they are doing to prepare the workforce of the future.”
Find out more about Arkle Finance by clicking here or call 01933 304789.
