Close Brothers Asset Finance Helps Brand Consortia Become ‘Covid-ready’

CHESTER, UK / AGILITYPR.NEWS / October 19, 2020 / Close Brothers Asset Finance has provided specialist designer and manufacturer, Brand Consortia, with a term loan backed by CBILS to help the business through the COVID-19 period, putting them in a positive position once site working is deemed safe again.

Based in Oldham, Brand Consortia was established in 2010 and specialises in the design and manufacture of signs and graphics for high-profile customers. Prior to the COVID-19 outbreak, the business was on track to post a record year; however, the bulk of their order book was postponed for a minimum of eight weeks because of the outbreak with the main source of work postponed.

Matthew Sproston, Area Sales Manager for Close Brothers Asset Finance’s Manufacturing division: “We are delighted to have been able to support a British manufacturing business at a time they needed it most.

“The directors approached us for forbearance on their existing agreement, which was granted. They also needed a cash injection to provide working capital and help cover the new costs associated with adapting to social distancing measures in their manufacturing facility. The funds will provide the working capital they require to trade out of the pandemic.”

Brad Tupman, Managing Director, Brand Consortia: “Pretty much the entirety of our workload has been suspended because the type of work we undertake involves site visits; these are critical to our work and have been pushed back to until the pandemic settles down.

“We have supply agreements in place with our customers and we’re confident in fulfilling our orders once we’re allowed on site again.

“We weren’t eligible for the small retail grant, business rate relief or larger schemes and had been looking at CBILS as a financing option. We’re grateful Close Brothers Asset Finance really stepped up, continuing to help businesses like our own while other lenders were not looking to take on new customers.”