Manufacturers keep the country running. Getting you the finance to do it is my job.
I’m Mark Smillie. In 30 years of arranging business finance, manufacturing clients have always been some of the most straightforward businesses to work with, and some of the most badly served by mainstream lenders.
You’ve got real assets, real orders, real invoices and a real business. Yet the banks look at your balance sheet, see the capital tied up in stock and machinery and slow-paying customers, and decide you’re too complicated. You’re not too complicated. They’re just using the wrong lens.
Manufacturing finance isn’t one product. It’s a mix of facilities that fit around how your business actually works, when you need to buy materials, when production runs, when customers pay and when your suppliers expect settling. Getting that mix right is what I do.
The finance problems manufacturers actually face
Rising material costs that can’t always be passed straight on to customers. Supply chain disruption that forces you to hold more stock than you’d like. Large orders that need funding upfront before a penny comes back. Customers on 60 or 90 day payment terms while your wages go out every month.
None of this is a sign of a failing business. It’s the reality of running a manufacturing operation in the UK. The right finance structure doesn’t just patch the gaps. It gives you the working capital to take on bigger contracts, invest in better machinery, and stop firefighting your cash flow every month.
Manufacturing finance I can arrange for you
Equipment and asset finance
The single most common need I hear from manufacturers. New machinery, upgraded production lines, specialist equipment. Spreading the cost over the life of the asset keeps cash in the business and lets the equipment pay for itself over time. The asset itself is usually the security, so you’re not putting personal assets on the line to invest in your own factory.
Working capital loans
Short and mid term facilities to cover materials, wages, and operational costs between orders landing and customers paying. If you’re growing and the gap between outgoings and income keeps widening, a working capital facility structured properly makes that manageable rather than stressful.
Invoice finance for manufacturers
If you’re invoicing customers on 60 or 90 day terms, that’s cash sitting on your balance sheet doing nothing while your suppliers want paying now. Invoice finance lets you draw against those unpaid invoices immediately, up to 90% of the invoice value, and repay when your customer settles. No personal guarantee required in most cases. Available on a selective basis if you don’t want to commit your whole ledger.
Finance against purchase orders
Got a large order confirmed but not enough cash to fulfil it? Purchase order finance lets you access funding against a confirmed order before you’ve even raised the invoice. It’s one of the less-well-known facilities in manufacturing finance and one of the most useful.
Growth and expansion loans
Investing in a new production line, a bigger facility, automation, or new technology. Mid to long term structured loans that give you the runway to make a significant capital investment without crippling your working capital in the process.
Bad debt protection
If a major customer fails to pay, the impact on a manufacturer can be severe. I can also arrange credit protection alongside invoice finance facilities so one bad debt doesn’t threaten the whole business.
84% acceptance rate. And I know which lenders actually understand manufacturing.
70% of businesses that apply direct for finance get turned down. Mine get accepted 84% of the time, because I only approach lenders I already know are a fit for your situation.
That matters in manufacturing more than most sectors. A generalist lender looks at your stock levels and sees risk. A specialist lender looks at your order book and sees security. I know which is which, and I know how to present your business so the right lender sees what they need to see.
I tailor every application to the lender I’m sending it to. I don’t send the same submission to ten lenders and hope for the best. I pick the right lender first and put together an application that gives you the best possible chance of a yes at a good rate.
From first call to funds: typically five to ten days. And it costs you nothing. I’m paid by the lender when a deal completes.
Need to fulfil a large order but don’t have the cash to do it?
This is one of the most common calls I get from manufacturers. A contract comes in that could transform the business, and the cash to deliver it simply isn’t there.
There are specific facilities designed for exactly this situation. Purchase order finance, stock finance, and short term working capital loans can all be structured around the order cycle rather than the calendar. If you’ve got a confirmed order and you need funding to fulfil it, call me before you turn it down.
Bad credit or been turned down before?
It doesn’t automatically mean no in manufacturing finance.
Asset finance and invoice finance are both secured against something real, your machinery or your invoices, which means the lender cares less about your credit score and more about the quality of the underlying asset or debt. I regularly arrange manufacturing finance for businesses with CCJs, previous difficulties, or a history of rejections elsewhere.
Tell me your situation and I’ll tell you honestly what’s available.
Frequently asked questions
Can I finance machinery if I already have a loan on it?
Possibly, depending on the equity in the asset and the facility type. It’s worth discussing. I’ve structured refinancing arrangements on existing assets for manufacturers more than once.
What if my customers are on very long payment terms?
That’s exactly what invoice finance is built for. The longer your payment terms, the more valuable the facility. Some of my strongest invoice finance cases are manufacturers with customers on 90 day terms.
Do I need to put up a personal guarantee?
Not necessarily. Asset finance and invoice finance both have the underlying asset or debt as security, which often removes the need for a personal guarantee entirely. I’ll always look for the option that keeps your personal assets out of it.
How quickly can I get funds?
For working capital loans and invoice finance, typically five to ten days from first call. Asset finance varies depending on the equipment involved. I’ll give you a realistic timeline once I know what you need.
I’ve already been turned down by my bank. Can you still help?
Almost certainly. A bank rejection usually means you went to the wrong lender, not that no lender will have you. Banks have narrow criteria and limited appetite for manufacturing sector lending. The specialist lenders I work with don’t have the same restrictions.
Ready to get your manufacturing business properly funded?
One call. Tell me what you need, what you’re trying to do, and what’s stopped you getting there so far. I’ll tell you what’s available and what it’ll cost.
No credit checks at this stage. No commitments. No cost.
Or call me directly: 07710 466166
Testimonials from firms like yours:
“Mark totally exceeded my expectations. He was amazingly responsive to every phone call and email, gave great advice without judgement, and was very honest about my position and how he could help. He introduced me to a wonderful specialist, Leanne, who was very good and delivered the finance I needed. I felt supported by Mark every step of the way, I just don’t have a bad word to say – it was all super smooth!”
“Mark Smillie is very positive and straightforward to work with. He knew exactly who to put us in touch with to get the business finance product we needed. It was a painless process and we are very pleased with the product that was put together for us. We are already recommending his refreshingly personalised service to other businesses.”
We approached 4 brokers with the same proposition, but it was obvious we should engage with Mark Smillie at Ringrose Business Finance. He was frank and honest about what he could achieve and had a real can-do attitude. With his knowledge and network, we were introduced to a top-notch specialist and our application was successful. Mark’s personal touches before, during and after the process is something you rarely get these days. I can’t recommend Mark highly enough.
Group of Engineering Companies
“So good we recommend him to other Companies”
“Mark Smillie is very good at what he does – you can’t fault his helpfulness and inside knowledge on finance companies. We would definitely go back to him again with any business finance requirements and do recommend him to other companies.”
“We went to Mark for business finance after being let down by other brokers who promised the world and never delivered. Mark was the first genuine specialist we met, and the only broker who actually did what he said he would. He gets the finer details right. We were introduced to an expert for our particular scenario and successful with finance for our eCommerce business. Mark will listen and advise on the best solution – it may even be one you didn’t know existed. Mightily impressed that he even arranged an independent follow-up call for feedback on his service. No hesitation in recommending Mark.”
“We’re very pleased with the financial solution Mark delivered for us and we still keep the direct relationship with our clients as a result. As a young and growing business, we hadn’t held out much hope of being able to find the support we needed, but having done some research, Mark was confident he could help. He’s definitely the go-to person for invoice finance.”
“Mark Smillie came up trumps and delivered a finance package in very challenging circumstances. It’s easy to think his success stories are too good to be true, but I now know from experience that he is an approachable, real person that you can speak to directly. His service is excellent and he knows his stuff. We worked with one of his trusted, specialist contacts as part of securing the deal and they scored 10 out of 10 too. Highly recommended.”