Bryant & Bell secures over £10m for SMEs in first year of business
The Edinburgh-headquartered brokerage has supported more than 100 clients across Scotland and the wider UK since it was founded by Cameron Bryant and Jack Bell.
Commercial finance broker Bryant & Bell has secured more than £10m in funding for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) during its first year in business.
The Edinburgh-headquartered brokerage has supported more than 100 clients across Scotland and the wider UK since it was founded by Cameron Bryant (pictured, right) and Jack Bell (pictured, left).
The co-founders bring more than a decade of commercial finance brokerage experience.
Former racing driver Bryant also founded YourEdinburgh during the Covid pandemic to support local businesses across Edinburgh and the surrounding region.
Bryant said: “Jack and I spent years working for larger brokers, but we always felt there was an opportunity to serve SMEs differently by building an agile business absolutely focused on putting the client first.
“Coming from a small family landscaping business myself, and having worked with so many local companies through YourEdinburgh, I’ve seen first-hand the challenges and opportunities facing SMEs through good times and bad.”
Bell added: “Our ambition is to be the best, not the biggest. We want to continue growing the business without compromising on the quality of advice or service we provide.
“The first year has given us a really strong platform, and our focus now is on building long-term client relationships underpinned by trust.”
Bryant said the changing funding landscape means the role of commercial finance brokers is increasingly about helping businesses understand the range of finance available to them.
He noted: “Business owners are often unaware of the breadth of funding options available. A broker’s role is increasingly about providing visibility across the funding market rather than simply arranging finance when a bank says no.
“That can apply to a joiner in their first year of trading looking to finance their first van just as much as an established £50 million turnover business looking for more competitive or better-structured funding beyond its bank’s direct offering.”
The company has also strengthened its senior team with the appointment of former Hampden Bank banking director George Grierson as senior adviser.
Grierson previously spent almost 30 years with Lloyds Bank, latterly leading its private client business in Scotland, and will support Bryant & Bell as it moves into its second year of trading.
Bell said: “We have two key investments on the horizon to support our continued growth, while we will also be recruiting an operations manager to ensure we maintain the highest standards of service as our client base expands.”
Bryant & Bell is also targeting further growth of its professional intermediary network, including accountants, IFAs and other business advisers.
Bryant concluded: “A key part of our growth strategy is continuing to build relationships with accountants, IFAs and other professional advisers.
“As a brokerage, our services are there to complement them, giving advisers access to additional commercial funding expertise when their clients need it.”
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