Business funding specialists join PKF Francis Clark in Southampton

Experienced corporate banking and funding advisors Alison Trant and Jeremy Richards have joined PKF Francis Clark to support ambitious businesses to access the capital needed to achieve their ambitions.

Alison Trant, Paul Stout and Jeremy Richards at PKF Francis Clark’s new Southampton office (Photo: Phil Rowley)

It follows the recent opening of our new office on Southampton Science Park.

Directors Alison and Jeremy both bring more than 20 years’ experience in helping clients to navigate a wide range of funding options. They worked together at Lloyds Banking Group until launching their own independent banking and funding advisory service, FiftySeven Finance, four years ago.

“Our vision was for regional small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to be able to access an independent banking team to support them in their funding ambitions, through a good old fashioned business bank manager service but crucially with whole-of-market access across commercial and challenger banks, as well as the fast-growing alternative finance market,” said Jeremy, who also worked closely with mid to large corporates and intermediaries in his previous roles with Lloyds and Royal Bank of Scotland.

“Having supported many SMEs with their funding and banking requirements, we believe the best way to achieve our shared ambition of further growing our capability and reach is to join forces with PKF Francis Clark – a firm who share our vision, values and, critically, believe in the benefit of the service we provide to SMEs.”

Alison and Jeremy bring a wealth of expertise from their banking backgrounds to complement our existing skills and experience within the team.

Alison, who started her career with Royal Bank of Scotland, added: “With high street banks scaling back their local relationship teams and the meteoric rise of alternative lenders and debt funds, the funding landscape has become bewildering for businesses to navigate. We’re delighted to join PKF Francis Clark and look forward to continuing to support regional SMEs with independent banking and funding advice, working closely with all our professional contacts.”

With nine offices across the South and South West of England, PKF Francis Clark has 55 partners and over 850 members of staff, with annual revenue of £52 million.

Jeremy Richards, Alison Trant and Paul Stout (Photo: Phil Rowley)

Paul Stout, corporate finance partner, said: “Alison and Jeremy bring a wealth of expertise from their banking backgrounds to complement our existing skills and experience within the team. Their reputation in the market is exceptional and they are already playing a key role in supporting businesses with funding events, recapitalisations and refinancing needs.

“Since opening our Southampton office, there’s been a very positive reaction from both clients and other professionals to the fact we’re investing in the local market. We’re actively recruiting to meet the demand we are seeing for our services, and the appointment of Alison and Jeremy is a major step as we look to grow our team.”

As a member of the PKF International family of legally independent firms, PKF Francis Clark works with colleagues in 150 countries to help clients complete cross-border transactions and do business around the world.

Find out more about PKF Francis Clark’s fundraising advisory services.