Latest News Stories

To end the year, we wanted to reflect on 12 things that went right this year, setting us all up for a positive start to 2024.

Rivers incubator block discounting service is nearly two years old, and as well as being in high demand, we're now seeing clients grow into fully funded businesses on the radar of larger lenders.

Dependability is one of the most valuable qualities, in work and in life. It might not be the glitziest of assets, but knowing you can trust those you work alongside to do what they say they're going to do is fundamental to running a business. It's those partnerships that are worth their weight in gold.

With hints that things are stabilising in the economy, it could be the sweet spot entrepreneurs have been waiting for.

What's our most practical tip for successful business loan applications? Don't ask for an avocado bathroom suite from someone who only sells white bathroom suites. Let us explain…

In this article we look at the numbers and explore how asset finance leases and loans are helping businesses grow in a challenging climate.

Whilst creating a difficult commercial landscape for many, the various challenges over the past 12 months have also forced some organisations to adapt working practices, and in some cases, it can be for the better.

If someone suggested that you paid a member of your team their entire year's salary on their first day in the office, you would probably question their thinking. The same can be said of assets.

Currently, at Rivers, we're finding that there's a strong demand for our lease and loan products from borrowers with good covenant value, indicating confidence amongst the business community.

How can businesses make themselves more resilient in the face of rising interest rates and economic headwinds? In this article, we explain how smart cash flow can help.

Non-bank lenders do provide an essential function for business owners with an eye firmly on a positive future. In this article we wanted to discuss the role of non-banks as we start a new year striving for growth.

After much anticipation, British finance minister Jeremy Hunt announced updates to the nation's budgets and finances in the Autumn Statement last week, with a view to getting the economy back on track. So, as small businesses, what do we need to take into consideration to thrive over the next 12 months and beyond?

How can business loans with fixed interest rates help businesses to grow in a period of economic flux? A crucial feature of Rivers’ loans and leases, especially in this fluctuating market, is that during the term of our agreements, they operate on a fixed interest rate. Therefore, any future increases in interest rates will not change your monthly repayments.

Rivers Leasing is delighted to have been shortlisted for the Specialist Lender of the Year award at the National Credit Awards 2022.

The entrepreneurial spirit amongst the UK's businesses, especially its SMEs, is alive and pushing back against the tide of negative headlines. Where that's highly evident is in the activity seen within the asset finance industry in the first half of 2022.

This month marks the first biannual event of 2022 for the asset finance industry in the North of England. The gathering of industry professionals, ranging from owner managers to brokers, meet to discuss the industry, including the opportunities and challenges that are emerging, as well as generally building trusting relationships.

Scalability is one of the biggest challenges facing even the most promising of small businesses. For businesses built on lending money two key things can provide serious barriers to growth potential if they cannot be scaled up: funding and software capabilities. So, if you’re a small or new lender entering the market,  what can you do?

This month, Jane Crier, an experienced member of the block discounting community, has joined the Rivers team as Block Operations Manager.

Rivers Leasing, and asset finance software solutions provider LTi Technology Solutions (LTi), have announced a partnership giving small lenders with a platform to book deals and their businesses.

Rishi Shah has been part of the team at Rivers Leasing since the beginning. Here he shares his thoughts on working in asset finance and being part of the Rivers team for 10 years and counting.

2022 has a new air of possibility about it. No more excuses, it’s not just about keeping calm and carrying on, it’s about proactively jumping into the next chapter and there’s help available if it’s needed.

Rivers Leasing is launching incubator block discounting for small lenders to support smaller lenders with lines of up to £250,000.

We view the coming period as one of great opportunity for the lending industry. However, it’s one that requires us to think ahead about the changing landscape and our collective role within it.

Niche lenders are here when they're most needed, paving the way for targeted and appropriate support tailored to different types of SME and their requirements. Now is the time for businesses to have the courage to continue, and we want to help you do that.

Rivers Leasing is pleased to have welcomed Al Shields to the team as Business Development Manager from October 2021.

We are all returning to work post pandemic and it’s with great excitement that we look forward to building businesses together once again in the leasing industry.

Rivers Finance Group PLC (‘Rivers’) has secured a funding package from Conister Bank, with the advisory support of LGB Capital Markets, to grow its established Rivers Leasing business and launch a new block discounting product in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic.

It is with enormous sadness that we said goodbye to our colleague, Tim Shand, last week as he passed away surrounded by his family, following a year-long battle with cancer.

Independent, niche asset finance funder, Rivers Finance Group (Rivers), the holding company of Rivers Leasing Plc, has been named for the fourth consecutive year in the prestigious FT1000: Europe's Fastest Growing Companies, announced yesterday.

Carefully managed and strategic spending is also a fundamental part of business growth, both for the individual company and for the economy as a whole, and asset finance is proving that the right kind of spending is healthy for all.

As January comes to an end, often so too do a number of our well intentioned, possibly overly ambitious, New Year’s resolutions. So if the promise of a New Year isn’t enough to keep our goals on track, what is?

The small actions we all take to support one another each day have a cumulative impact that benefits the whole, which is why we offer finance to hard working businesses and individuals in all corners of the UK.

The dependability of seasonal celebrations is a wonderful thing and, this year, they add a sense of reassurance to a 12 month period that many would say has been characterised by a certain amount of uncertainty.

What are the pressures that are placed on SMEs during the festive season, and how can we ease them?

This month Netflix launched the much anticipated season three of The Crown. It’s a long way from the days of having to wait to see an episode a week of a favourite TV show. Now, all 10 episodes land in one go. So the important question is, have you watched it all yet?

There’s a time and a place for big egos, and it’s not unusual for businesses or organisations to focus heavily on the role of a leader in their structure and their story. However, for our part, we prefer to adhere to the old adage ‘there’s no ‘I’ in team’, and ultimately it actually means we are better able to work towards the greater benefit of individuals.

The diversity and ingenuity of small businesses in the UK never ceases to amaze us. As the ghouls, ghosts and goblins prepare to come out to play this week for Halloween, a case in point is perhaps an industry that only really gets seasonal recognition; pumpkin farming.

While it's the big names in business that tend to make headlines, in the UK it is the small companies that have the biggest impact on the economy and the jobs market. So with all the socio-political upheaval going on, and the poignant need to take a proactive approach to economic growth, how can we do more to support SMEs?

Preferential treatment for the people and organisations who bring us business is not a new idea. Nor is it a bad one. It can be a way of saying thank you, and it can be a way of encouraging more business. There is an awful lot of it that goes on though, and with that in mind, do incentives really add value?

Rivers Leasing has been shortlisted in the 2019 NACFB Awards in the Soft Asset Provider of the Year category.

"If it appreciates, buy it. If it depreciates, lease it” said John Paul Getty, the oil tycoon said to be the richest man in history. So why did this leader amongst businessmen extol the virtues of leasing, and why is it arguably more relevant than ever today in the UK?

According to omniscient experts, in 2019 customer service is the most competitive battleground for businesses. So what does that mean for leasing and asset finance?

Asset finance is not known for its glamour, but we are a community who are good at making money achieve good things. The AFPA Trust channels those two elements - community and resource - to give back to the charities and good causes that make a difference to the world around us.

Artisan bread might be in vogue, but the interest in buying local is much more important than a superior sandwich. It has a real impact on both the individual business owner, and the UK economy as a whole. So why would you stop at bringing your custom to local businesses, when often, it’s investment that will help them grow?

As the weather warms up, lots of us are planning our summer holidays and looking forward to jetting off to sunnier climes. But when you’re cruising over the South of France at 30,000 ft, do you ever stop to think about all the little widgets that come together in order to get that plane into the sky and carry you away?

Rivers Leasing has won the Corporate LiveWire Innovation & Excellence Award for Boutique Asset Finance Funder, announced earlier this month.

Rivers Leasing has announced four promotions within its team, reflecting both the hard work and commitment of individuals as well as the increasing responsibilities of the company as it grows.

Each day new reasons for a loss of confidence seem to batter SMEs, but with subtle changes in the market, independent lessors find themselves more important than ever in supporting Britain's growing businesses.

For all the technology at our disposal in finance, we should never lose sight of the fact that there is a human story behind every transaction.

Rivers Finance Group, the holding company of Rivers Leasing Plc, has been named for the third consecutive year in the prestigious FT1000: Europe’s Fastest Growing Companies, announced on Friday.

Gimmicks are a big part of marketing and advertising, but are we sacrificing genuine sentiment for catchphrases and cartoons?

Ten years ago, the world and his wife would have been quick to tell you that printed books and magazines were a thing of the past. Much the same was said about the role of brokers in the finance industry. Fortunately for us, as fans of both books and brokers, neither has turned out to be true, proving that there's inherent value in a tangible connection.

The success of any business hinges on a careful combination of short and long term strategies. The tricky thing is balancing the two. Here's how we have helped companies to do just that...

Today it seems that the use of jargon and buzzwords oscillates between being inaccurate on one the one hand and designed to exclude on the other. So this January, perhaps it’s time for us all to say what we mean?

Christmas is coming, the goose is getting fat but it’s also a chance to give gifts that mean something instead of lots of festive tat.

Supporting Britain’s SMEs isn’t just a business model at Rivers Leasing; it’s something we try to apply in the details of our work and operations. After all, when SMEs are successful, we all win.

Rivers Leasing has been named amongst the finalists in the SME Champion of the Year – Independent or Privately Owned category at the Leasing Life Conference and Awards.

This week the Rivers Leasing team attended the 10th Leasing World Awards dinner, where we were shortlisted in two award categories – Innovator of the Year and Top Independent Lessor.

Rivers Leasing is to extend its loan note limit from £12m to £25m this month, in line with its plans for sustainable organic growth, and following another year meeting and exceeding targets.

Rivers Finance Group, the holding company for Rivers Leasing Plc, has been named in the The Financial Times’ inaugural Future 100 UK Special Report, detailing fast growing UK companies that are also making an impact on their industry or wider society.

We live in a world where everyone’s a brand and there’s always something to celebrate on social media, but at Rivers Leasing our achievements are more about sustainable growth than shiny bells and whistles...

There has been quite a bit of news about the contraction of discretionary spending this summer, but that it is not a generalisation that should be made across all sectors.

In the July issue of Broker World, Rivers Leasing spoke about the core values that have helped us to build the business we are proud of to date.

Let’s enjoy the summer holiday; it’s 30 degrees in the UK after all, so it seems anything could happen!

Up until Wednesday, football fever pitch had England in its grip. However, even amidst the disappointment it is clear that our collective love of The Beautiful Game is woven into the fabric of the UK, so much so that we have even been able to draw parallels with the world of asset finance - bear with us.

Complaint and compliment - two such similar looking words with such completely different meanings, and yet, in customer service, there is a special kind of alchemy that can bind the two.

What a year it has been for the Royal family. A monumental wedding, Prince Charles’s 70th birthday, and now the Queen’s birthday has also passed as another happy celebration. Even the sun put his hat on for the occasion.

So 25th May has been and gone, with much anticipation and many headless chickens. Thank heavens for the well timed Bank Holiday weekend that allowed us all the breathing space to recover… and sift through our emails.

Rivers Leasing’s Business Operations Manager, Rishi Shah, is a central figure in our team. Having joined in the early days of the company, one of his main responsibilities is the front line underwriting of lease and loan proposals. Here he talks about what sets Rivers Leasing apart as a financier and as a place to work…

No man is an island, and that truth can also be said of businesses.

Independent, niche asset finance funder, Rivers Finance Group the holding company of Rivers Leasing Plc, has been ranked in the FT1000: Europe's Fastest Growing Companies for the second year running.

The end of the financial year sparks all kinds of change, in addition to a wealth of business admin, and for many of us it can a time of anxiety as well as opportunity.

Having joined Rivers Leasing in January as a Non-Executive Director, Stephen Bassett’s background in senior management and directorship roles and organisations across the world of finance, including his last full time role as Managing Director of Arkle Finance, have given him a unique perspective on the industry. Here we asked him to explain a little more about what he has learned across his 45 year career and what attracted him to Rivers Leasing…

At Rivers, 2018 started on a high note with the appointment of Stephen Bassett, former Managing Director of Arkle Finance, as Non-Executive Director. What you may not have known is that Stephen is our second Non-Executive Director, joining the team alongside Michael Friend who has been working with Rivers Leasing for a number of years.

This week, independent niche asset nance funder Rivers Leasing, has announced the appointment of Stephen Bassett, former Managing Director of Arkle Finance, as Non-Executive Director.

‘Razzle Dazzle ‘em, and they'll make you a star!’ trills Billy Flynn in the West End’s Chicago, as glitter rains from the ceiling. However, while the sparkle of the stage calls during the festive season and businesses clamour to squeeze the last penny from every eager customer with special offers, to what extent do short term gains herald long term losses?

While rapid up-selling as you purchase new electronics for much loved family members may equate to giddier smiles around the Christmas tree, speedy escalation isn’t always more favourable than steady growth, particularly when it comes to business.

This week Rivers Leasing has launched a £3 million Loan Notes investment opportunity with Crowdstacker to the public, offering investors the chance to earn a fixed 6.5% gross p.a. return over three years.  Crowdstacker is an award win...

Rivers Leasing plc is a niche, fast growing, independent leasing and finance business in Harrow, North West London and we are looking for a new member to join the team.

Rivers Finance Group Plc (RFG) the parent company of Rivers Leasing has today announced that Broker Manager Tim Shand has been promoted to Business Development Director with immediate effect.

We are all familiar with the 80/20 rule – where 80% of your business is more than likely generated from 20% of your customer base, but what about the 80% of customer left behind?

At Rivers we are a small team, but we work together to produce results which are bigger than the constituent parts, and we enjoy doing so.

FinTech, ‘robo advisors’ and a general leaning towards financial technologies and digitisation are natural progressions in a world where even contraception can now officially be done digitally, but, when it comes to finances at least, who does it all benefit? ‘It’s not just about digitising money, it’s about monetising data,’ come the cries of the converted, and of course, there is a definite place for automated processes; they’re more cost effective and in terms of managing vast swathes of clientele and their information, it’s more efficient as well. In fact, with huge customer bases, automation has to be used to make the economics work. But with the greatest will in the world, it’s not very personal and it doesn’t allow for much individuality. If you don’t fit into a tick box, what does digitisation do for you?

The media is still reeling and most of us aren’t entirely sure what the election results really mean, but those of us with businesses to run can’t sit at home worrying. We, no doubt like our political leaders, need to think about the ways in which to move forward, or at least do a little buffering. Thankfully, the election provides us with fertile ground for lessons learned, from all parties…

Politics continues to take centre stage in 2017 it seems, as Brexit surges towards implementation, the snap general election looms and France has a new President-elect in the form of Emmanuel Macron - a former investment banker no less. Theresa May seems confident of her position in the polls but who really knows what the result will be until the ballot papers are counted. Certainly tensions are rising and anxiety has the capacity to loom large in business as well as in our personal lives, should we let it and unless we have a plan.