On Friday, 5 September, William Wragg, MP for Hazel Grove, visited Stockport-based peer-to-peer lending platform Assetz Capital as part of a plan to visit some of the fastest growing businesses in the region, helping both local and UK economies.
Assetz Capital has experienced strong growth since opening its doors to lenders in 2013, quickly becoming one of the top UK peer-to-peer lending alternate finance platforms, as well as one of the fastest growing businesses in Stockport having lent £80 million in just two years.
Peer-to-peer lending allows investors looking for a better return on their money to invest directly in healthy, UK SMEs seeking funds to grow and expand.
William Wragg, commented: “Numerous businesses in Stockport are doing exceptional things for the local economy, and beyond. Assetz Capital is also driving positive change in the financial industry – for both disillusioned individual investors, and SMEs.
“It’s vital that SMEs get the financial support required to grow, and the government has put extensive measures in place to make sure this happens. Peer-to-peer lending and therefore Assetz Capital is clearly at the heart of this so I’m looking forward to seeing our local business thrive in the coming years.”
Continuing the trend of rapid growth, Assetz Capital agreed a partnership with the Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) in January, expanded its product range through partnerships with high-profile US firms and secured £150 million from institutional investors as part of a wider growth plan.
Furthermore, just two years since launch, the business successfully raised capital of £3.2 million on equity crowdfunding site, Seedrs. Such activity has meant that the Assetz Capital’s office has grown by 20 staff, and is set to expand further as we approach 2016.
Assetz Capital is also active in the community and has recently announced a partnership with Sale Sharks and sponsorship of player Will Addison.
Andy Holgate, Managing Director of Assetz Capital, said: “William is an enthusiastic MP with a passion to see success in his local constituency. We were thrilled to welcome him to the Assetz Capital offices to show him around and talk to him about our plans. The government has good intentions with its plans to aid growing businesses, and we’re pleased to be a part of that.
“There’s a lot of work to do, but we feel that the growth we have seen in the past two years is testament to the demand and desire of both SMEs, and investors looking to make their hard-earned money work harder for them.”
To find out more about Assetz Capital, visit www.assetzcapital.co.uk
To find out more about how peer-to-peer lending can benefit a community, click here.