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ASC Finance for Business

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ASC Finance for Business

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With over 30 years of experience, I have in-depth knowledge of the financial services industry. The bank manager has disappeared, but ASC are still here.

Simon specialises in:

Business Loans
Commercial Loans
Commercial Mortgages
Property Development Finance
Property Investment Finance
Business Expansion Finance

Contact Simon to discuss your exact requirements. As an experienced business finance broker, I am able to use my expertise to assist small businesses in obtaining the commercial, business and property finance they need to grow. My office serves clients throughout Hertfordshire and Bedfordshire – including St Albans, Watford, Luton, Stevenage, Bedford, Welwyn Garden City and Hemel Hempstead. I have helped structure development finance proposals from single property projects all the way up to large scale developments, and arranged long and short term commercial finance for a wide range of small to medium sized companies. My clients always have the ability to get in touch with me directly – a one-to-one relationship. I will take the hassle out of arranging business finance – giving you a faster, better and simpler way to get the cash your business needs.

03/11/2026

SME lending is at its highest level since the pandemic, but…

UK Finance’s latest Business Finance Review shows gross lending to SMEs reached £5.35 billion in Q2 2026, more than 25% up on the same period last year. It’s the tenth quarter in a row of year-on-year growth.

In real terms, however, lending by the main banks in the first half of 2026 was still about a third lower than the 2019 average.

So even though lending is up, many businesses may still struggle to find finance and may need to look beyond the high street.

If your bank has said no, there are other routes. We’re always happy to talk through your options.

29/10/2026

The team at ASC Kent recently faced an interesting challenge.

After buying and redeveloping a run-down caravan site with their own funds, their client wanted to refinance to buy another site with cash and build on their success. However, the surveyor undervalued the site and requested an EPC certificate, even though the property was exempt, which capped the loan at 55% LTV.

We challenged the EPC point and argued that the valuer’s figure didn't reflect the site or the market. As a result, the lender agreed to increase the loan to 65% LTV, giving our client the £290,290 they needed to reinvest.

Caravan sites are notoriously hard to value because no two are run in quite the same way. In scenarios such as this, it pays to have an experienced broker on your side.

28/10/2026

Development finance can be one of the harder types of commercial finance to get right, and many applications run into avoidable trouble.

We've put together a guide to the most common mistakes that delay or derail a development finance application, and how to avoid them before they become a problem.

You can read it here: https://asc.co.uk/knowledge-hub/common-mistakes-that-delay-or-derail-a-development-finance-application/

27/10/2026

Five-star service from our Oxfordshire team:

"Excellent service from Rob. He was professional, helpful, and made the finance process much easier. He was always there whenever I needed him. I would happily and highly recommend him to anyone looking for business finance."

22/10/2026

Applications for personal guarantee-backed finance surged in 2026, up 63% year on year in the second quarter alone. More business owners than ever are being asked to put personal assets on the line to secure finance.

If you're applying for a business loan, there's a good chance you'll be asked to provide a personal guarantee. We've put together a guide covering what it actually means, when lenders are likely to ask for one, and what to check before you sign.

Read it here: https://asc.co.uk/knowledge-hub/do-i-need-to-give-a-personal-guarantee-for-a-business-loan/

21/10/2026

Here's a round-up of some of the transactions we've recently helped clients complete:

• Purchase of freehold office premises to relocate an established estate and lettings agency – £305,000
• Refinance of an unencumbered yard with multiple tenants, plus funds to build two further units on site – £300,000
• Refinance of a family-owned autocentre to fund a new showroom for its car sales and detailing business – £175,000
• Mortgage for an overseas-based client buying their first UK investment property through a limited company, to be let to a housing association – £123,750
• Purchase of a semi-commercial property by its tenant, a hair salon with a flat above – £127,500
• Restructure of short-term, high-interest debt and raise working capital to support business growth – £80,000

These deals involved very different clients and very different requirements, but they shared one factor in common. They came to ASC, and we got the deal done.

20/10/2026

Exceptional service is standard wherever you're based, as these five-star reviews from across the network demonstrate:

"I honestly can't recommend ASC Finance enough, and in particular Emily, who was absolutely amazing from start to finish. This was a very complex mortgage that went on for quite a long time, with plenty of hurdles along the way. I never felt like I was left wondering what was happening, whether that was by phone, email or text. Given how complicated this mortgage became, I genuinely don't think anybody else could have got it over the line." – ASC Essex

"Excellent service from Rob. He was professional, helpful, and made the finance process much easier. He was always there whenever I needed him." – ASC Oxfordshire

"Conrad and his team recently secured me a deal that others could not. Their knowledge in the industry is very helpful and left me feeling comfortable with my venture." – ASC Cornwall

15/10/2026

Running a pub, restaurant or hospitality business often means facing extra hurdles when it comes to finance. Seasonal trading, tight margins and accounts that don't always tell the full story can make lenders cautious, even when the business itself is sound.

We've put together a guide covering why hospitality businesses can be harder to fund, the most common finance needs we see, and what actually makes the difference when it comes to securing the right deal.

Read it here: https://asc.co.uk/knowledge-hub/specialist-finance-for-pubs-and-hospitality-businesses/

01/09/2026

Five different businesses, five different challenges, but one thing in common. These recent deal completions across the ASC network all required the right finance to move forward.

• £600,000 for a tenant to purchase a car repair garage and self-storage site.
• £356,250 to help a business expand into new premises and take its operations into a new region, opening up new trade networks.
• £195,000 for a tenant to purchase the trading premises of their café and car wash business, despite the need for a split title and a few minor credit issues.
• £114,052 portfolio refinance for a returning client to raise capital for further investment in residential property.
• £100,000 for a tenant to purchase the freehold premises of their takeaway business.

Whatever the ambition, we're here to help turn business aspirations into reality.

27/08/2026

A bank saying no doesn't have to be the end of the road.

Short trading history, complex ownership, accounts that don't tell the full story, tight timeframes, or unusual security, none of these mean a business isn't lendable. They just mean the mainstream route isn't the right fit for that particular transaction.

In our latest blog, we look at five common reasons banks decline finance applications, and why the right broker can often still find a way through.

Read more on our blog: https://asc.co.uk/knowledge-hub/why-your-bank-saying-no-isnt-the-end-of-the-road/

Address

8 Holywell Hill
Saint Albans
AL11BZ

Opening Hours

Monday	9am - 6pm
Tuesday	9am - 6pm
Wednesday	9am - 6pm
Thursday	9am - 6pm
Friday	9am - 6pm

Telephone

+441727848806

Website

https://www.asc.co.uk/hertfordshire

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