The banks don’t understand construction. I grew up in it.
I’m Mark Smillie. Before I spent 30 years arranging business finance, I grew up in a construction family. I know what retentions do to cash flow. I know what it means to wait six months for a council to certify a payment that was earned in week two. I know the difference between a JCT contract and a standard commercial invoice, and why that matters when you’re trying to borrow money.
Most lenders don’t. Most brokers don’t either.
That’s why construction companies come to me when the bank has said no, when a generalist broker has come back empty-handed, or when they’ve been burned by a finance company that clearly didn’t understand their business from day one.
If you’re in construction and you need finance, you need someone who speaks the language. Not someone who’ll spend half the call asking you to explain what a retention is.
Why construction finance is different
Construction is one of the most cash-hungry sectors there is, and one of the least well-served by mainstream lenders.
You win a contract. You mobilise. You buy materials, pay wages, hire plant. Weeks pass. Months sometimes. Then the application for payment goes in. Then it gets queried. Then it gets certified, if you’re lucky. Then the main contractor takes 60 days to actually pay.
Meanwhile your suppliers want their money on time. Your workforce expects to be paid on Friday. And your overdraft, if you have one, was never designed to carry this kind of gap.
That’s not a failing of your business. That’s just how construction works. The right finance product fixes it. Getting to the right product is where I come in.
Construction finance I can arrange for you
Finance against uncertified applications for payment
This is the one most lenders won’t touch. I know the specialist lenders who will. If you’ve raised an application and it hasn’t been certified yet, I can often get you an advance against it. You’ve earned the money. You shouldn’t have to wait months to access it.
Construction invoice finance
Once applications are certified and invoiced, I can arrange a facility that pays you immediately rather than waiting 60 or 90 days for the main contractor or client to settle. No personal guarantee required. No whole-ledger commitment if you want to keep it selective.
Retention finance
Retentions sit on the balance sheet for months, sometimes years. I can arrange facilities that release the cash value of retentions you’re owed so you’re not permanently subsidising your clients’ cash flow at your own expense.
Short and mid term business loans for construction
Working capital for a specific contract, funds to bridge between projects, cash to cover mobilisation costs before the first payment lands. Short term three to twelve months, mid term one to five years, and both available without proof of income on certain secured facilities.
Plant, equipment and asset finance
From a crane to a digger to a fleet of vans. Spread the cost over the life of the asset, keep cash in the business, and use the equipment itself as the security rather than your personal assets.
Property development finance
If you’re developing as well as building, I have specialist contacts in development finance who understand your project structure and can work to your timeline. Funds released in tranches as work progresses, not in one lump sum you have to manage yourself.
84% acceptance rate. 5 to 10 days from first call to funds.
Going direct to a lender in construction finance is a gamble most businesses lose. 70% of direct applications get turned down, and every rejection leaves a mark on your credit file that makes the next application harder.
My acceptance rate is 84%, because I only approach lenders I already know will say yes to your specific situation. I know which ones understand construction, which ones are comfortable with retentions, which ones will advance against uncertified applications and which ones won’t touch them.
Here’s what the process looks like when you call me:
- I listen to your situation and work out which type of finance actually fits
- I identify the right lender from my panel of over 100 finance companies
- I prepare your application properly so it lands with the right information in the right order
- I submit it and manage the process through to funds in your account
From first call to money in the bank: five to ten days in most cases.
The construction finance lenders you need aren’t on the high street
Mainstream banks don’t have the appetite or the understanding for construction sector lending. The products that actually work for contractors and developers come from specialist lenders, and most of them don’t take direct applications. They work through brokers like me.
That means going direct doesn’t just risk a rejection. It often means you never even find the right lender in the first place.
I have access to specialist construction finance lenders who understand:
- JCT contracts and NEC contracts
- The certified and uncertified applications for payment cycle
- Retention structures and typical retention periods
- The cash flow reality of subcontracting under a main contractor
- Property development funding structures and drawdown schedules
These are lenders I have established relationships with. When I call them about your application, I’m not a stranger with a cold submission. I’m someone they know, with a pre-vetted deal they want to look at.
Bad credit or been turned down before?
It doesn’t automatically close the door in construction finance.
If your invoices or applications for payment are solid, if the underlying work is real and the debt is collectable, there are lenders who will look at the quality of your book rather than just your credit score. I regularly arrange construction finance for businesses with CCJs, previous failures, or a history of applications rejected elsewhere.
Call me before you assume the answer is no.
Frequently asked questions
Can I get finance against uncertified applications for payment?
Yes. Most mainstream lenders won’t do this, but I have specialist contacts who will. If you’ve raised an application and you’re waiting for certification, call me before you assume there’s nothing available.
Do I need to put up a personal guarantee?
Not necessarily. Invoice finance and certain secured facilities don’t require a personal guarantee. The security is the debt itself or the asset being financed, not you personally. I’ll always look for options that keep your personal assets out of it wherever possible.
How long does it take?
Five to ten days from first call to funds in most cases. Some facilities move faster. Development finance takes a little longer depending on the project.
What if I’ve been turned down by my bank?
That’s actually the most common starting point for the businesses I help. A bank rejection doesn’t mean every lender says no. It often just means you went to the wrong one first.
Does using a broker cost me anything?
Nothing. I’m paid by the lender when a deal completes. The rate you get through me is typically the same as or better than going direct, because lenders pay brokers to bring them pre-vetted applications they actually want.
Ready to sort your construction finance?
One call. Tell me what you’re working on, what you need and when. I’ll tell you what I can do.
No credit checks at this stage. No commitments. No cost.
Or call me directly: 07710 466166
Testimonials from construction firms like yours:
“I can’t fault the support I received from Mark Smillie. He is well connected and came up trumps with the finance company he linked us with. All very pragmatic, good to their word and we quickly received our funds – an excellent service. What a fresh new approach to financing when banks are so risk-averse. I highly recommend Mark who is very personable and makes everything very easy.”
“It’s great to work with a broker that has a construction sector specialism. Mark at Ringrose Business Finance is very knowledgeable, competent and personable. He talks a lot of sense.”
“I always measure by results and my experience with Mark at Ringrose Business Finance was 100% effective – I got exactly what I needed. As well as a great finance facility, Mark saved me so much time. The day after I spoke to him I was talking to the right specialist. I will definitely be in touch with Mark again as our growth plans continue. I highly recommend him.”
“UK Acoustic Systems Ltd are recognised as one of the leading providers of soundproofing and sound absorption solutions for the commercial, leisure, educational and residential sectors
I have used Mark Smillie for business finance for the last 6 years, he surrounds himself with a contact list of “Can Do People”, apart from business finance I have found Mark a very good sounding board for various business matters. He is also a pleasure to deal with, I cannot recommend Mark highly enough.”
“I was very impressed with the excellent service from Mark at Ringrose Business Finance. He looks outside the box and really listens to what funding requirements you have – he isn’t just selling what he wants to sell you. Using a broker with specialist finance knowledge in the construction and manufacturing sector is definitely the way forward. Far better than the banks and other one dimensional finance companies. We will absolutely go back to Mark again.”
“We chose to use Mark at Ringrose Business Finance because it seemed he would make the best introductions to lenders to suit our particular situation. He did not disappoint. His recommendations proved to be excellent. We are very happy with his quick, easy and efficient service. We’ll certainly go back to Mark when we need finance to buy more equipment.”
“I decided to approach Mark because I liked the fact he provided a mobile number and gave excellent clear explanations about finance options. A highlight of my experience is being able to speak to him directly and quickly. As well as the fact he ensures we get the best rates from his selected top brokers for various industries. Like most business owners I get approached by so many brokers. It’s hard to know who to use, but I can now highly recommend Mark to any company.”
“I have already recommended Mark to a contact of mine after my very positive experience of his business finance services. Mark was very helpful, quick to respond and thorough. Having successfully gained CBILS funds, I will definitely work with him again in the future to utilise his property and construction finance expertise.”