Simply Asset Finance marks five years of growth in Scotland with £200m funding milestone

• £200m of funding provided to Scottish SMEs
• More than 1,200 Scottish businesses backed across 2,700 funding deals
• Dedicated Scottish team has grown from two people to 11 specialists in five years

Specialist SME lender Simply Asset Finance is celebrating five years since establishing its dedicated presence in Scotland, having now provided £200m of funding to businesses across the country.

Opening its first office in Scotland in 2021, Simply has now supported more than 1,200 Scottish businesses, completing 2,700 funding deals across sectors including construction, transport, manufacturing and engineering. In 2025 alone, the business originated £42 million of lending in Scotland.

The milestone comes as July marks the fifth anniversary of William Devine’s appointment as Head of Scotland – formalising Simply’s dedicated Scottish operation and building on its existing presence in the region. What began as a two-person team has grown into 11 specialists working directly with businesses across the country, reflecting Simply’s long-term commitment to the Scottish market.

The business’ growth has been underpinned by becoming a trusted funding partner for firms helping deliver Scotland’s infrastructure and industrial ambitions. From electricity grid upgrades and oil and gas decommissioning to road improvement projects and wider construction activity, Simply has enabled businesses to invest with confidence and access funding quickly.

Alongside direct lending, Simply is continuing to grow its network of dealership and vendor partnerships across Scotland, helping expand its reach through trusted suppliers and supporting future growth.

William Devine, Head of Scotland at Simply Asset Finance, said: “This milestone is something we’re incredibly proud of. It reflects the trust businesses across Scotland have placed in us and the fantastic team we’ve built over the past five years.

“Scotland now represents a significant proportion of Simply’s lending portfolio, and despite the challenges many businesses continue to face, we’re seeing real resilience and ambition. Businesses are still looking to invest, expand and seize new opportunities, and we’re here to help make that happen because our success is built on theirs.

“We’re excited to keep building on that momentum over the years ahead.”

John Wiles, Managing Director at Simply Asset Finance, said: “Scotland continues to be one of Simply’s strongest growth regions, and it’s encouraging to see such strong demand from ambitious businesses looking to invest for the future.

“The strength of our local team, combined with our growing network of partners, means we’re able to reach more businesses than ever before with the flexible finance they need. As Scotland continues to invest in infrastructure, industry and innovation, we’re committed to backing the SMEs that will help drive that growth.”

ENDS

Media contact

Teamspirit: simplyassetfinance@teamspirit.co.uk

About Simply Asset Finance

Simply Asset Finance was founded in April 2017 by a team of asset finance specialists, in response to the need for innovation and disruption in the sector. It offers an alternative financial model to banks and looks beyond a balance sheet and credit rating, supported by a digitally enabled customer journey. Simply Asset Finance consider a customer’s potential and work with them to identify and implement the best solution to help them succeed. Their highly experienced sales team is made up of people with extensive knowledge of the industries they lend to. This means they understand the day-to-day challenges that businesses face and the dedicated support teams guide customers through the process, helping them every step of the way. Simply’s approach is underpinned by its proprietary AI agent, Kara, which enables operational efficiencies for its business and customers, including a new market-leading functionality supporting loan pay-out in as little as eight minutes for approved vendor partners.

Simply Asset Finance has lent more than £2bn to over 13,000 small and medium businesses across a wide range of sectors including transport, construction, manufacturing, recycling, and agriculture.