Shawbrook expands digital SME lending team

Shawbrook’s digital SME lending solutions have experienced a surge in demand with a significant 125% year-on-year increase in applications.

To meet this growing need, Shawbrook is investing heavily in its digital platform and expanding its team.

This team expansion follows three consecutive months of record growth for Shawbrook’s digital SME business. The additional team members will play a key role in supporting Shawbrook’s broker partners and directly assisting SMEs in securing the capital they need to fuel their growth ambitions.

Five new industry experts have joined the Shawbrook Digital SME team:

• Seb Hoyle: A senior business development manager specialising in the Midlands region, bringing expertise in brokering asset finance deals.
• Jake Bebbington: Business development manager with 12 years of experience in commercial finance. Jake will assist brokers nationwide, predominantly with requirements for Shawbrook’s CapEx Term Loan solution. 
• Eleanor Russell-Blackburn: A recipient of the Leasing Foundation’s 30 under 30 Award, Eleanor joins as a senior business development manager to support commercial finance brokers in securing funding for clients.
• Nargis Quraishi: With over 20 years of experience, Nargis strengthens the team’s focus on Construction, Waste Management, Manufacturing and Engineering sectors.
• Kealy Jaitly: Kealy joins as an internal business development manager, specialising in supporting mid-market and flow transactions for brokers in the South of England.

“The significant increase in demand from SMEs seeking funding solutions reflects the strong entrepreneurial spirit in the UK,” said Stuart Doignie, managing director of the Digital SME team at Shawbrook. “We’re committed to providing brokers and their SME clients with the tools and support they need to thrive.”

Alongside the team expansion, Shawbrook is investing in its digital offering to deliver a faster and more efficient funding journey for SMEs.

Key highlights include an improved decision engine which allows brokers to receive funding confirmations within 24 hours, streamlining the application process, along with the successful launch of Shawbrook’s Cap-Ex Term Loan, which addresses a gap in the market by supporting both tangible and intangible assets, experiencing a 90% monthly increase in applications since launch.

“We pride ourselves on providing exceptional service and innovative solutions,” said Doignie. “Our talented new team members will be instrumental in delivering this commitment. We will continue to invest in our digital platform and develop new products like the CapEx Term Loan to ensure SMEs have access to the resources they need to succeed.”