
Community lender BCRS Business Loans expands with fund launches
10 Jan 2025
Published in: Black Country Chamber of Commerce News
We spoke to Stephen Deakin, Chief Executive of BCRS Business Loans on plans for 2025.
Wolverhampton-based Platinum member BCRS Business Loans expanded into Wales as part of its progress during 2024.
Stephen Deakin, Chief Executive, explains how the community development finance institution is planning to grow in 2025 by investing in new technology on the back of a positive year.
What does your company do?
Established in 2002, BCRS Business Loans is committed to lending to viable businesses making a positive contribution to the social, environmental or economic wellbeing of the West Midlands and Wales that have been unable to secure funding through mainstream lenders.
What have been your company’s key achievements in 2024?
BCRS Business Loans expanded into Wales in 2024, becoming the fund manager for the smaller loans pot of the Investment Fund for Wales. We also were appointed as fund manager for the smaller loans pot of the Midlands Engine Investment Fund II for the West Midlands, following on from our successful delivery of the first Midlands Engine Investment Fund. Through the Community Investment Enterprise Facility, we also secured funding from Better Society Capital along with Lloyds Bank, the first major banking group to finance loans for delivery through socially motivated Community Development Finance Institutions (CDFIs).
Have you made any significant investments in your business this year?
BCRS Business Loans has started an investment journey in to new technology to ensure we streamline our processes, maximise staff productivity, create operational resilience, boost business agility and most importantly transform the customer experience.
How will you be looking to grow in 2025?
In 2025, BCRS Business Loan will continue to invest in new technology as well as undertaking a brand refresh and developing a new website. This will allow us to reach as many small and medium-sized businesses directly and improve the end-to-end customer journey through our different physical, digital and communications touchpoints.
Visit https://bcrs.org.uk/ to learn more.
Comments
Post A Comment
You must be logged in to post a comment. Please click here to login.