Yorkshire firm ABL Business launches new Glasgow office

Yorkshire-based finance and marketing consultancy ABL Business has expanded its operations into Scotland after spotting a gap in the market.

The firm has opened an office in the city’s West George Street headed by commercial finance broker Robert Perrie, who has previously worked for Lloyds Banking Group, Aldermore Bank and Western Union.

ABL’s expansion comes under two years since the current operation was formed through a merger between ABL Finance and Talk Direct Marketing, widening the range of support packages to clients.

Last year ABL grew its turnover by 300 per cent and the company, which provides small and medium businesses with contacts and support to access commercial funding streams, combined with marketing strategy and management expertise, says it is also exploring other expansion opportunities.

Alex Beardsley, ABL Business director, who is a member of the National Association of Commercial Finance Brokers, said the move marked the first step in ABL’s growth strategy. The company was also examining potential expansion opportunities in the North-East, North-West, Midlands and London.

She said: “Over the past 12 months we have dealt with over 200 SME businesses across the UK and brokered £25 million in funding. Our business offer is now perfectly placed for the growing SME market across the UK, including Scotland, where we noticed that provision in the finance market was very limited.”

Robert Perrie added: “We identified a gap in the market in Scotland to provide services for firms operating in Glasgow and the central belt, Accessing finance is one of the most challenging aspects of business for SMEs and our research revealed that not all firms realise brokers exist and those that are aware of them don’t quite understand how they operate.

“ABL focuses on building relationships with clients. We have already secured a good client base as the opportunity to access all financial needs with one point of contact is attractive, not just to the SMEs themselves but also to the funders, as it adds value for their clients.

“As a provider of commercial finance, marketing and business support services to SMEs, we work directly with owner-managers to support them and understand that our support needs to be ongoing – we are here on the ground locally which helps build relationships.”