Cardiff based printers, HartleyWilprint specialise in prestigious printing and engraving for high-quality customers including The Royal Mint and Universities. The Hartley brothers understand the need to acquire top quality printing machines and IT equipment to satisfy the exacting standards of their clients.

“Our Accountant suggested we speak to Armada Asset Finance Manager, Richard Gelsomini. We were so impressed by the speed and simplicity that we now don’t buy anything without speaking to Richard first. I would urge any business owner to talk to Armada.”

Dominic Hartley

www.hartleywilprint.co.uk

Davron are a team of highly experienced, technical engineers who restore and maintain Aston Martins in their factory in Salisbury. When they needed to acquire a high precision machine for engine restoration they turned to their local banker for the support they needed.

Although the bank wanted to support Davron, none of their facilities were appropriate. The banker, who had worked with local Armada Asset Finance Manager, Olly Nash, for years, introduced him to Davron who Olly went to visit and the equipment leasing facility was put in place in days. 

“I approached my Bank Manager who although wasn't able to assist directly, was still a great help as he advised that the quickest and most efficient solution for us would be to work with Armada. Olly came out to see us and was brilliant from start to finish, with the level of service he provided. It's important to us to work with people we can build a rapport with.” 

Nigel Barker, Davron Aston Martin Specialists, Salisbury

www.davron.free-online.co.uk

Gwynt Y Ddraig cider company, started in 2001 by Bill George and Andrew Gronow needed a specialist microfiltration system for their production line – why wouldn’t they come to Devon, the home of cider, to fund the assets to speed up their 8 bottled and 9 draught ciders. 

Richard Gelsomini, Armada’s man in Wales made immediate contact and visited the brewery to gain an understanding of the people and their business. Within days an offer for asset finance was made – the contract was signed 24 hours later  and the suppliers paid the next day. 

As Bill George said: “The whole experience has been superb. We are over the moon to have the equipment so much quicker than expected. I was surprised at how simple the process of getting equipment finance from Armada is and Richard is a pleasure to deal with.” 

“Iechyd Da” 

www.gwyntcider.com

Chippy's are still flavour of the month! In spite of the larger range of choices in take-out food, the British Potato council says 73% of Britons see fish & chips as their favoured take-away.

Thank goodness that Armada still loves supporting your local chippy with asset finance and equipment leasing and has done for nearly 40 years. Our support for the industry cannot be battered.

Armada Finance, an independent asset finance company, based in Exeter and established for nearly 40 years, appears to be one of the only lenders in the market still actively supporting start-up SMEs and franchises, regardless of the sector they are in and the equipment they require. In fact, staff are reporting a significant rise in enquiries through the Armada Asset Finance website and from brokers, for new start businesses. Armada offer an alternative option to bank loans and overdrafts with equipment leasing that entrepreneurs need to be aware of. The product is simply a finance lease agreement for equipment from £1000 up to £250k on terms up to 3 years. Armada pays the supplier invoices and the borrower pays a fixed monthly rental for the agreed term.

Asset Finance is particularly important for start-ups as finances are usually stretched. It’s a helpful and popular option simply because the money to pay for the equipment doesn’t have to be found upfront, thereby protecting cash flow. There are also significant tax benefits in many cases. Because Armada looks at each case individually, carefully assessing every situation there is no restrictive cap limit on the amount they are willing to lend just because it’s a start-up, unlike most other lenders.

Founder and Managing Director Kirk Smith said: “When starting Armada all those years ago in the South West of England I concentrated on supporting the tourism and hospitality industry, which received little to no support from the government of the day or the banking sector. My relationships with entrepreneurs in this vital area of employment and wealth creation for the region stood me in good stead. Supporting people through a relationship and an understanding of them and their business enabled Armada to grow to the point where we now support all industry and commerce throughout the UK.

In many sectors of business the banks still do not have an appetite to support, however with our ethos of putting people before numbers or tick boxes our niche position is enabling significant numbers of people, who have ideas and energy to start businesses and offer employment to workers who have come from the public sector and larger employers who are downsizing. The UK has always needed the entrepreneur. Where would we be if there had never been support for Richard Branson, Alan Sugar or James Dyson? ”

Recently, Armada has supported a number of new start restaurants and hotels all over the UK who have struggled to get finance elsewhere simply because of their sector. All the catering and kitchen equipment required for the opening of the first UK branch of a US fresh American dining franchise in Cardiff was funded using asset finance last summer totalling £175k and a Japanese restaurant and bar opened in Liverpool where Armada funded the complete fit-out. Armada have also financed new play centres, gyms, healthcare businesses and food manufacturers - a supplier to the Jamie Oliver Group, based in Cardiff is a recent client. Armada also frequently is asked to fund more unusual or specialist equipment that mainstream asset finance funders tend to shy away from – £50k of laser technology for a new Laser Clinic in London is a perfect example. “We are delighted to contribute to the success of every new venture we support and it’s exciting to see entrepreneurs visions become reality and watch a business develop. Everyday, businesses are able to open their doors due to our support”.

The process for providing equipment leasing to a start-up at Armada is just as fast and simple as it is for an established business. Entrepreneurs have so much to think about when setting up a business, taking the stress out of finance and making it simple is of great value. Obviously there are no trading history financials to assess, so instead Armada takes a view by looking at business plans, projections and personal bank statements. It’s also very helpful to know the background of the people involved so a complete picture can be built. Generally, prospective clients need to be homeowners, but if their proposition is strong, non homeowners can still get asset finance if a relative or friend will act as guarantor.

Britain needs to step-up its love and support of our new and established small, local independent businesses to help them prosper. It is the multitude of small independents that, given the support, can create significant employment and be the engine to drive the economy forward.

Although Armada supports businesses of all types, one of the key sectors we work with is Retail. We anticipate our asset finance investment in to the sector to exceed £2m by the end of this financial year. From local convenience stores, pharmacies and franchise food outlets, to boutique London clothes stores and garden nurseries, Armada has funded equipment for them all. Retail businesses by their nature need to invest in a significant amount of assets, whether they are just about to open or if they are replacing aging equipment – Epos, refrigeration, shelving, coffee machines and lifting equipment are just a few examples of what can be leased.

Armada has worked with a Quiksilver franchise client based in South Wales since 2008. We funded the entire fit-out of their first store which soon became a storming success and led to the opening of 3 further stores in Wales and Bristol for which we helped by funding purchases such as Epos systems and air conditioning units. Our client has now become Quiksilver’s largest franchise partner in the UK.

As the sector faces constant new challenges such as the VAT increase, and online competition, it is of even greater importance for business owners not to pay for equipment out of cash flow and instead protect it by funding any capital purchases using asset finance. Britain needs to step-up its love and support of our small, local independent businesses to help them prosper. It is the multitude of small independents that, given the support, can create significant employment and be the engine to drive the economy forward.

When Kirk Smith was establishing Armada in Exeter in the seventies, his focus was mainly on asset finance for catering equipment for the hospitality and leisure industries, whether it be an oven for a hotel restaurant or a coffee machine for a local café. Over time the business grew and evolved; equipment leasing facilities offered got larger, the variety of equipment Armada would fund increased and referrals started coming in for different types of businesses.

Although the Armada team today are experts in providing asset finance for the full range of equipment required by businesses in all sectors, the leasing of catering equipment is still core to the business, with Armada having a wealth of experience specialising in this area and long established, trusted relationships with equipment suppliers. Armada asset finance professionals have a unique understanding of the needs of the service industry. We know that a quick response is needed for an urgent replacement of essential equipment such as an oven or freezer, which if broken could be a disaster for a business and that ‘cash is king’ to any entrepreneur.

The hospitality sector covers a huge range of businesses, from hotels, restaurants, takeaways and cafes to pubs, wine bars and night clubs - Armada has funded equipment for them all. Recent equipment finance support has included the complete fit-out of the kitchen for a new restaurant in Leeds, a range for a fish & chip shop in South Wales and carvery units for a pub on the Isle of Wight. However, catering equipment is also required for businesses in all sorts of other sectors. Armada has funded mixing equipment for a food manufacturer in Preston, kitchen equipment for play centres and coffee machines in convenience stores and offices through asset finance.

With the service industry soon to benefit from the influx of visitors to the UK for the 2012 Olympics, Armada looks forward to helping businesses get ready to make the most of it with our flexible asset finance solutions.

Armada has funded nearly £1m of equipment for the Amusement and Leisure Park sectors so far this financial year. A high level of asset finance support to these types of businesses has been consistent throughout Armada’s history with leisure equipment leasing being seen as one of our main niches and a core part of our business. Armada’s loyalty and love of working with businesses in the sector has remained constant, despite the withdrawal of support from many asset finance lenders.

Companies in the amusement and leisure industry are perfectly suited to the equipment leasing service Armada provides as they naturally need to invest in large quantities of capital equipment. Our extensive experience of working with leisure businesses over nearly 40 years, means we have a unique understanding of their requirements and their need to regularly update stock to the latest machines.

For example, Armada has worked with a Leisure Services company based in Dorset since they started out in 2005. The company rents, sells and services entertainment machines to licensed premises throughout the South of England. They pride themselves in offering a comprehensive range of the newest coin operated machines. The partnership with Armada works perfectly as the client regularly uses Armada’s shorter term asset finance options to enable them to acquire the very latest machines and avoid pressure on cash-flow.

Armada looks forward to continuing its support of the amusement and leisure sectors in 2012 and beyond.

A vibrant construction industry is vital to the overall UK economy. Despite this, good businesses that are keen to grow are still struggling to obtain the asset finance and cash flow support needed to support this growth, simply because their sector is deemed problematic.

Armada recently helped a successful scaffolding company who were offered several prestigious contracts including work on national historic monuments and the Olympic Village build, but they didn’t have sufficient equipment to fulfil the contracts. Investment in assets was needed as a matter of urgency to ensure they didn’t lose these valuable contracts. Armada were able to react fast, funding over £150k of building equipment within days through asset finance. Several months down the line they wanted to take on more new business and Armada was able to offer further equipment leasing support as a relationship was already in place.

We look forward to aiding the construction industry very positively in 2012.