Beta Commercial Finance plan further growth as it marks five years in business

Business finance specialists Beta Commercial Finance is celebrating its fifth birthday and looking forward to further growth. 

The Alton based company, founded by former business banker Tom Wilkinson, has been instrumental in job creation of and business growth in Staffordshire and beyond.

Beta has created three new jobs of its own in the past 18 months and has plans for more expansion in 2022 including employing its first apprentice. Commercial Manager Becky Kilday, Account Managers Sue Matthews and Joanne Webster-Sisson in recent months, joining Tom and Senior Account Manager Jacqui Wright.

Beta plays a vital funding role for companies. Tom explained: “Traditionally, when looking for investment to fund premises or equipment, businesses would have a named manager at their bank to go to.

“Those bank jobs are scarcer nowadays and High Street banks have become far more risk adverse.

“Our team of experienced former bank executives and finance experts fill that gap.

“Also, because we aren’t tied to one lender, we can offer solutions in complex cases which can involve more than one lender.”

One of Beta’s earliest cases involved sourcing funding for the now highly successful Daisy Bank House business centre.

A more recent job involved funding new premises for C2 Construction. The company asked Beta for support in funding the purchase of the Eagle Works, Cobridge, Stoke-on-Trent, as a headquarters for the business with space to offer premises for other companies.

Said Tom: “Prior to the pandemic, we brokered a deal which would have allowed C2 to relocate. However, when Covid-19 hit, the initial lender withdrew the agreement.

“This left business expansion and new jobs hanging in the balance. We, therefore, needed to source an alternative solution for C2.

“We were able to review the application and broker a good loan deal for the company. We were also able to add in additional solutions to ensure working capital was available during the pandemic lockdowns.”

During its first five years. Beta has supported many companies. Examples include finding funding solutions for gym premises and equipment, retail units and a day nursery.

Looking to the future, Tom said: “Now we are established there’s scope for further expansion and, as the UK recovers from the pandemic, it’s clear companies will reinvigorate investment plans they’ve placed on hold.”

“We have plans to expand the team further, including giving an opportunity to a young person in a trainee role.”