Client base being expanded

Apr 1 2008 by Sue Scott, Evening Gazette

BUILDING a profile in the crowded cybermarket is a hard task for small firms, but one ambitious Darlington-based lending brokerage has blazed a digital trail by building a web-based service, sourced through Business Link.

Headed by business turnaround specialist Mark Blayney, pictured left, Creative Business Finance (CBF) began three years ago by offering independent financial advice and support to SMEs, later adding a specialist arm finding niche finance for firms in the renewables field.

But following the launch of its new lender finder websites last year, it has expanded its client base to larger national and international businesses.

Both www.creative finance.co.uk and www.creative factoring.co.uk are regarded as industry leading brokerage websites which provide easy to use interfaces to connect businesses with the right lenders.

The company now expects to double its annual turnover with plans to develop a call centre to handle business enquiries.

Mark Blayney said: “We believe our simple online system is ahead of the marketplace, which is why so many financial firms are now approaching us to use the technology.”