James Cresswell joins Advantedge Commercial Finance to head up Midlands based operation
Advantedge Commercial Finance (Advantedge), a leading invoice financier, has appointed James Cresswell to the role of regional managing director – Midlands. James will be responsible for leading the continued growth and development of Advantedges’ presence in the Midlands region as it continues to get back on track following a challenging two years.
The appointment comes as Advantedge celebrate over two decades of funding SMEs with over £130m currently being used by firms to get themselves back on track and capitalise on the opportunities available to them.
The Midlands is an important region for the firm. At the heart of the UK, with a population of more than 11 million, it creates £222bn Gross Value Added – more than 14% of the total for the UK. It is also a high-export economy, with exports worth more than any other region in the UK – £49bn annually, and 17% of the UK total. With a strong manufacturing sector accounting for 20% of the UK’s total manufacturing output through firms like, Jaguar Land Rover, National Grid, Tarmac and JCB it plays a vital role in growing the UK’s economy.
As James comments “I am delighted to be joining the team at Advantedge who believe that businesses based in the Midlands have a crucial role to play in driving the economy. With the mainstream lenders lacking the desire to support SMEs, I am determined to give them access to the funding solutions their business needs. I am passionate about the benefits that invoice finance can deliver as unlike other forms of finance, it is aligned to the real time performance of a business and can generate the cash required to drive growth. Advantedge are a breath of fresh air. Their commitment to delivering a locally based operation was attractive but their strong commercial perspective, access to large funding pools and a commitment to delivering a straightforward market leading service that meets clients’ expectations was impossible to ignore. With funding facilities available up to £2m I am looking forward to supporting Midland firms and their growth aspirations.”
James brings with him a wealth of experience with over two decades in commercial finance. Having started his career as a Barclays Bank manager, he then moved into sales-based roles within their invoice finance and corporate division before moving to Aldermore Bank where he spent 3 years structuring funding solutions for a range of clients. Prior to joining Advantedge, he had moved back to Barclays and spent nearly a decade supporting the SME sector working within the trade and working capital division and more latterly as a regional manager in Barclays Bank (UK) leading a team of relationship managers and directors providing funding solutions for businesses turning over up to £10m.
Advantedge are committed to delivering a locally based operation, which understands local businesses and their markets. They offer a full range of invoice finance facilities to small and medium sized businesses delivering fast and flexible finance solutions to clients on their own terms so they can capitalise on opportunities as they arise. The business has seen consistent growth having already funded over £2 billion worth of invoices to UK SME’s and are resolute in ensuring they continue this funding support.
As David Tilling, CEO concludes: “We are delighted that James has joined the team. He brings a solid reputation having worked with businesses in the region for his whole career. He has a deeply engrained ethos of delivering the best in client service and is the right person to drive on the next phase of our Midlands strategy. Whilst firms still face challenges, they are focussing on their business growth and we are here to facilitate that. Ensuring they have the funding available to make these plans happen is crucial if they are to continue to capitalise on the opportunities that arise.”