We are funding experts who believe that business funding requires a personal touch. With over 140 years of combined experience in banking and finance, we find our customers the right solutions for their needs.
Prior to becoming a founder of Funding Friends Ltd, Jonathan worked at HSBC, RBS/Natwest, Santander and Shawbrook Bank. Jonathan has extensive experience helping SME and Corporate businesses with funding and making their ambitions turn into realities.
Working at this range of funders gave Jonathan a reliable network of contacts which he now uses to identify the right funder for a client’s requirements.
As an experienced buy-to-let landlord, Jonathan has a passion for property finance. He brings practical know how into the process of securing great deals for investors.
When he is not running Funding Friends and helping businesses secure finance you’ll find Jonathan being a busy Dad. He’s also renovating an old Victorian Vicarage which he keeps on promising his wife will “only take a few more years”.
Damian has over 30 years’ experience advising SME’s and Corporates on sourcing the most appropriate funding to support their business aspirations.
Damian previously held executive positions at Multi-National banks directly assisting SMEs and funders with growth plans.
Damian’s appreciation of the Fintech environment and emerging lending trends was a catalyst for the creation of Funding Friends.
Damian’s particular areas of specialism are in growth and succession finance, such as MBOs / BIMBOS as well as a strong affinity with the hospitality sector.
Married to Louise, with two teenagers, Damian enjoys golf / keeping fit and reading when he is not working either in the day job or running dad’s taxi service.
Our Authorised Representatives are insured and authorised by Funding Friends to work with businesses nationally and obtain funding directly from our panel of lenders.
Chris has over 35 years’ experience in finance, latterly as a Relationship Director with Lloyds Banking Group specialising in Real Estate Finance where he agreed over £250m of deals for investors and developers over the last few years.
He has significant expertise in all commercial banking areas as well as many leadership roles across the finance industry.
Chris is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Bankers and holds a BSc Honours degree in Finance.
Outside work, Chris has grown-up children and enjoys sport and travel.
Stuart previously worked at Barclays Bank for 38 years, undertaking a variety of roles including front line corporate sales director, credit manager and recoveries manager.
Stuart has extensive experience of lending, supporting and advising SME clients with particular expertise in the Healthcare sector.
In addition to his roles at Barclays, Stuart has also been the Chair of a not-for-profit care home for adults with disabilities and currently sits on the board of a not-for-profit social housing company.
Mike joined Funding Friends after a career in banking at Lloyds Banking Group, latterly in their Real Estate team. Having started in 1983, Mike has been in the funding world for over 39 years, helping businesses achieve their ambitions.
Mike has extensive experience working with property related lending. He now supports developers secure funding for their projects and helps landlords of commercial and residential property to achieve the best rates and grow their portfolios.
Based in Morpeth, Mike is passionate about the North East.
Andrew worked for 35 years with Bank of Scotland. Based in the North East of Scotland, over the years he has a wide range of sector experience including hotels, hospitality, retail, leisure, property and food.
In recent years, he specialised in the energy services sector, dealing with owner managed, private equity backed and listed companies.
Andrew has significant experience in structuring deals, growth funding, trade finance, working capital finance, asset-backed lending, cross-currency positions, complex structures, advanced anti-money laundering requirements and negotiation of facility documentation.
Andrew holds an MBA from Heriot-Watt University.
Married with 2 grown-up children, Andrew enjoys playing golf and travelling.
Lisa started her career as an auditor in private practice but decided early on to make the switch into commercial finance. She worked her way up the corporate ladder with several major blue-chips and is a time-served CFO.
After many years working in London and the Middle East she returned to her roots in Lancashire and for the last eight years has been an independent funding consultant and finance broker.
She has a passion for business finance and fund raising and has co-authored some business books and published works on this subject.
When she is not working, she is a hobby silversmith and can be found scouring auctions for antique and vintage jewellery to repair and restore.
Charles has over 35 years of experience in the finance sector, more latterly as Head of Commercial at a specialist London brokerage. Before this, he had a distinguished career at Lloyds Banking Group, where in his last role, he headed up the Commercial Personal Banking team in the SME sector.
He is well versed in the real estate sector, typically supporting SME clients across all their funding requirements with a speciality in development, investment and asset finance.
Charles hails from the North of England, having been brought up within a family construction business, completed further education at Leeds University with an Honours degree in Civil Engineering with Architecture. He has since moved progressively south and now lives in Haslemere, Surrey and can support clients across the whole of the South of England.
Nathan is a seasoned Business Finance Specialist. Having previously worked with a large London-based brokerage, Nathan has honed his abilities and gained a profound understanding of the financial landscape. His positive energy has resulted in strong and long-lasting relationships within the industry.
Nathan’s dedication to his work is underpinned by a commitment to helping businesses secure the financial help they need to flourish. He believes that sound financial advice and strategic planning can be the cornerstone of business success.
Nathan’s experience lies in a diverse spectrum of financial solutions and where he truly shines is as a specialist in unsecured funding, helpgin businesses secure the financial support they need quickly and without the hassle of collateral.
In addition to his professional prowess, Nathan leads a life that’s equally vibrant. He’s an adventurer at heart. He loves travelling, cooking and good beer!
Peter joined Funding Friends after 17 years with Lloyds Banking Group. Peter worked in client-facing functions throughout this time, spanning the corporate division, Trade, not-for-profit and most recently in their Real Estate team.
Peter built a strong portfolio of real estate clients whilst covering Yorkshire and is very proud of the connections he was able to support. He has significant experience with a variety of transaction types, including property investment, property development, trade finance and mergers. He relishes working with businesses and supporting their ambitions.
Very family-oriented with 2 children currently in school. Operating from Sheffield, his football allegiance is on the red side of the city, and he is also a passionate golfer.
Rob has circa 40 years’ experience in finance mainly as a Commercial Relationship Manager with Lloyds Banking Group specialising in Commercial Finance and Real Estate Finance.
He has significant expertise in all commercial banking areas supporting and advising SME clients.
Outside work you will find Rob with his family or friends or at the local Gym trying to keep himself fit!
Simon has over 20 years’ experience in the financial sector, supporting SME’s and Corporate businesses, providing financial assistance to help achieve their aspirations.
He has extensive expertise in all aspects of Banking, specialising in Real estate, with experience in leading International Trade, Invoice & Asset finance teams, with a passion to think outside the box to provide a bespoke proposition to support client needs.
Outside work, Simon enjoys playing golf (badly!)
Ben brings over 20 years of financial services experience to Funding Friends, blending a banking pedigree with hands-on business support. He joined the team in early 2025 to help business owners navigate funding options with clarity and confidence.
Previously at Barclays, Ben managed global relationships with blue-chip companies and led complex programmes across international debt portfolios.
He now advises SMEs on cash flow modelling, working capital, refinancing strategy, and treasury best practice, always with a relationship-first approach, taking the time to understand business goals and guide clients through the funding journey.
Alongside his work with Funding Friends, he runs Orphic Financial Insight, providing financial and treasury consultancy, helping founders enhance financial literacy.
Paul is a seasoned banking professional with over 32 years of experience at leading UK banks and Australian banks including RBS, Bank of Scotland, Yorkshire Bank National Australia Bank and Macquarie Bank. As Business Development Director at Macquarie Bank, he helped launch a UK relationship banking division, securing over £180 million in business loans.
In 2007, Paul founded Strategic Business Planning Ltd, producing over 125 bespoke business plans and helping SMEs secure more than £160 million in funding. Known for its national reach and expertise in leveraged transactions, the company continues to support businesses navigating complex financial landscapes to achieve growth.
With a strong network and expertise in corporate and acquisition finance, Paul has a proven track record of delivering results on transactions up to £50 million.
Based in Manchester, but dealing with transactions throughout the UK, he is dedicated to enabling businesses to achieve sustainable success.
After gaining her Economics degree Liane joined Ernst & Young and qualified as a tax adviser where she advised FTSE100s on tax compliance and planning matters. Due to a desire to work more closely with business owners, on the back of the financial crisis, she transitioned to corporate banking where she was a Relationship Director for Barclays Corporate.
Liane gained further corporate banking experience with HSBC in Mid Markets where she specialised in funding international trade, firstly as a Relationship Director and later as an Invoice Finance Client Director for Global Trade and Receivables Finance.
More recently she was a Debt Advisory Director at a top 10 global accountancy firm, advising businesses on debt structuring and guiding business leaders to get the funding they need to deliver their business plans.
Liane specialises in structuring sustainable asset-backed and working capital funding solutions for growing businesses, as well as unsecured cash flow funding and funding for transactions.
Married to Ryan and raising two young children near the Mendip Hills in the South West of England, Liane also enjoys walking her dog, riding horses, cooking and gardening, whenever she finds time between work, property renovation and the demands of everyday life.
Nick worked in commercial banking in South Africa for a decade before deciding to move to the UK in 2002.
Joining Bank of Scotland’s new business team in Newcastle that year, he worked there until late 2008, before relocating to Leeds.
A 4-year stint at Co-op Bank in Leeds was followed by a decade at Santander, where he ended his banking career as a relationship director.
His experience in commercial lending to trading and real estate businesses has allowed him to fit into his new role as a commercial finance broker with ease.
Nick is based in York, where he and his wife have lived for 15 years.
He keeps fit by swimming and enjoys cooking and walking to relax.
Lindsey began her career as a finance broker, initially addressing the financial needs of the family office. Her reputation grew rapidly, expanding to friends and extended family resulting in a robust client base that appreciates her in-depth understanding of not only property related lending but the real estate industry as a whole.
Lindsey is a seasoned professional with over 20 years of experience in the residential and commercial development and letting industry. As an investment developer, she has successfully managed multi-million-pound real estate projects from inception to completion. Her expertise encompasses all phases of development, including land acquisition, planning, and execution, ultimately leading to sales or refinancing to retain for rental purposes.
In her role as a Finance Broker, Lindsey is dedicated to supporting real estate professional to get the best financial products in the market as well as giving them a comprehensive overview of their options, empowering them to make informed decisions about their financial needs. She exemplifies a proactive approach, characterized by a can-do attitude and is known for her problem-solving capabilities and focusing on solutions rather than challenges.
When not working, Lindsey has a vast array of extracurricular activities ranging from tennis to tap dancing, yoga to boating. She is North East born and bred and a mother of three lovely children.
Andy has over 35 years’ experience in commercial and corporate banking. He spent the majority of his career with Lloyds Banking Group where he was a Relationship Director for more than 20 years, working in a number of business segments, from SMEs through to Large Corporates.
He possesses considerable knowledge across all areas of commercial banking and extensive experience in structuring debt facilities to meet clients’ needs. He has worked with businesses from a wide range of industry sectors, including many property investors and developers/housebuilders. Andy also has hands-on experience of the property market, having previously completed his own self-build project.
Having started his career in London, Andy moved to Bristol over 25 years ago, and he now lives in Wiltshire, making him well-located to support clients across the South of England, the Midlands, and South Wales.
Outside of work, Andy enjoys watching live sport, visiting the gym and spending time with his family.
Our clients value the ability to work with humans, not machines. We are always looking for great people who want to work with us. Our Funding Friends are self-employed people who operate using the Funding Friends platform. They benefit from the governance and support we offer, and at the same time benefit from the generous fee and commission structures we have negotiated with lenders on the platform.
If this sounds like you, why not get in touch with us at hello@fundingfriends.co.uk
Contact us today — no jargon, no hassle, just a straightforward, friendly chat to find the right solution for you.
We worked with Nathan Foster on a complex refinancing deal. He worked tirelessly to deliver a solution, staying positive despite all the bumps in the road, and we ultimately achieved a very successful outcome. I would happily recommend Nathan and Funding Friends to others.
Andrew Robertson was a source of constant support in this process. Always willing to help and advise, he was at the end of a call or email for what seemed 24/7 during this our funding application. Knowledgeable, diligent and thoughtful, he helped facilitate achieving our funding goals and helped us persevere through some tougher challenges. I would highly recommend him and Funding Friends.
Lisa Walls-Hester was amazing. Really supportive and clear, and helped a lot to keep everything moving along. Her credible relationships with lenders and knowledge really helped us to find the right lender to work with.
Funding Friends is a trading style of Funding Friends Ltd, registered in England No. 12693505
Funding Friends Ltd is authorised and regulated by the FCA No. 935775
Funding Friends is a member of the NACFB registration number 28750
Funding Friends operates as a commercial finance broker and is not a lender. Any finance or products arranged through Funding Friends is entered into entirely at your choice and is at your risk, and you are advised to consult qualified professionals outside of Funding Friends to make the right decision for your needs and circumstances. Your property or other assets may be repossessed if you do not keep up repayments on any debt secured against it. Funding Friends may receive a commission or finder’s fee for effecting introductions to lenders or third parties.