SME Funded has launched a specialist finance platform aimed at improving access to funding for small and medium-sized businesses in the UK construction and manufacturing sectors.
The platform connects business owners with more than 130 lenders, alongside SME Funded’s own deployed capital, and is designed to provide a single route to a range of funding options.
The company said the launch comes as SMEs face tighter lending criteria, slower approvals and reduced support from high street banks during periods of economic uncertainty.
SME Funded was founded by Bradley Lay, a construction M&A specialist, and will focus on providing funding for businesses that may struggle to secure finance through traditional channels.
Lay (pictured) says: “SMEs are the backbone of the UK economy, yet when it comes to finance, they’re often underserved. Traditional lenders are slow, restrictive and risk averse. When businesses are growing, they hold them back and when they’re under pressure, they step away.
“We built SME Funded to change that. This is about giving business owners real access to capital, quickly, intelligently and without unnecessary barriers.”
The platform offers business loans, asset finance, equipment finance, bridging and property finance, motor finance and software finance.
SME Funded said each facility would be structured around the individual business, with a focus on supporting growth, unlocking working capital and helping companies manage challenging trading conditions.
The firm said it would take a hands-on approach, working with clients from initial application through to funding, including structuring deals and positioning businesses to lenders.
According to SME Funded, its process enables business owners to apply quickly, receive an assessment and access funds efficiently.
The team behind the platform has worked with more than 600 UK business owners.
A spokesperson for SME Funded adds: “Too many strong businesses are held back by slow processes, rigid criteria and a lack of understanding from traditional lenders. We’ve built SME Funded to work in the real world, moving at the pace business owners need, and delivering solutions that actually fit their situation.
“Our role goes beyond simply finding a lender. We structure funding properly, tell the right story and manage the entire process, so our clients can focus on running and growing their business.”
Lay has experience across corporate finance and the construction sector, including helping to scale a business from £12 million to more than £150 million in revenue before a successful exit in 2022.
He is also co-founder of Peak Capital Group and founder of TrueNorth Capital Group, and has led strategic acquisitions across the UK and European construction markets. He has advised more than 100 SME owners on growth, financial strategy and exit planning.
