Shawbrook celebrates milestone as mid-market funding surpasses £1bn

Shawbrook has marked a significant achievement, with its corporate lending business now providing over £1 billion in specialist funding for mid-market SMEs in the UK.

This milestone underscores the bank’s commitment to unlocking growth for small and medium-sized enterprises by providing them access to the type of tailored funding options that are traditionally only available to larger corporations.

Shawbrook offers a range of flexible lending facilities, with amounts of up to £35 million, empowering established UK SMEs to accelerate their growth by providing them with structured finance facilities and high levels of service typically associated with much larger corporate entities.

The corporate lending team is comprised of seasoned debt specialists with experience in corporate advisory and the commercial divisions of major UK banks, who leverage Shawbrook’s strengths in technology, credit structuring, and innovation to bring comprehensive corporate finance solutions to the mid-market.

For growth-oriented businesses in technology and services sectors, Shawbrook’s leveraged cashflow proposition delivers event-driven funding to support crucial milestones, such as ownership transitions, acquisitions, or strategic investments.

Shawbrook also maintains a core focus on traditional sectors such as advanced manufacturing and wholesale, vital components of the UK economy. The bank’s enhanced asset-based lending (ABL) proposition allows these businesses to utilise their assets’ strength, providing financial resilience and essential working capital to navigate the changing and often challenging economic landscapes.

With 58% of SMEs expressing fears about their funding accessibility next year, Shawbrook stands poised to bridge this gap. The bank remains steadfast in its commitment to championing mid-size SMEs, ensuring they receive the attention and support typically reserved for larger corporations.

Nick Leitch (pictured), Managing Director of Corporate Lending at Shawbrook, explains: “Every business we support has its own unique story. Many are highly respected and ambitious in their markets, looking to do something exciting. That’s where specialist funding can make a huge difference. We know that almost 70% of SME owners are willing to pay more for specialist lending expertise to support their ambitions, and with experienced professionals across the UK, shorter lines of communication, and the ability to flex and tailor our facilities, including ABL and leveraged cashflow lending, we can offer something very compelling and personalised to clients and their advisers. You now don’t have to be a FTSE 100 business to access FTSE 100 finance.”

Darren Locker, managing director at BEW said: “I would like to express my gratitude to Shawbrook for the bespoke package the team have assembled for us as we begin an exciting new era for BEW. The terms offered will allow us to expand the reach of our business, supplying top-quality electrical goods to over 2,000 clients up and down the UK.”

Emily Vernon, chief financial officer at Commhoist said: “We were seeking a funding partner who could demonstrate an understanding of our business, as well as deliver a flexible package which would allow us the necessary firepower for further growth. Shawbrook delivered all of the above and have built a great relationship with our team in the process – we look forward to working with them going forward.”