Newport-based Henry Howard Finance is expanding its network of account managers in response to increasing demand for personality-led SME finance solutions nationwide.

Ian Kavanagh and Aaron Khatkar join the UK finance provider in its Midlands region as it looks towards continued investment in ‘people power’ and to help more businesses than ever grow, thrive and survive.

They will work alongside existing asset finance account manager for the Midlands, Paul Bedi, to provide even more small and large companies regionally with bespoke finance packages designed to suit their individual needs.

Matt Jones, head of asset finance at Henry Howard Finance, said: “In the past 12 months we’ve been taking on more account managers around the UK in response to an even greater need for bespoke and face to face SME financial solutions, with new members joining nationwide.

“Ian and Aaron will help Paul Bedi build on the fantastic achievements he has already made regionally in supporting a wide range of businesses to realise a whole host of expansion plans.”

Established in 1996, Henry Howard Finance now has a 130-strong team of ‘can do’ people who have supported more than 30,000 businesses to date secure the asset, vendor or retail finance they need to move forward and grow.

Ongoing investment in listening and people power, as well as securing a £100million asset finance facility from the British Business Bank, has allowed Henry Howard Finance increased flexibility and adaptability in recent years.

The company is able to lend from its own book, increasing the speed at which it can make funding decisions, and also looks at different options using a panel of lenders to find the right deal for its clients.

With more than 20 years’ experience in the SME finance market, its latest appointments follow a year of record portfolio growth during which the company helped more than 8,000 businesses and saw asset-based lending volumes increase by 16 per cent.

The finance provider, which is based at Langstone Business Park has also recently expanded its network in Devon, Cornwall, North West England, Bristol, Bath and Manchester, among other areas, as it looks to support more SMEs than ever with the asset, vendor and retail finance solutions they need to succeed.