We are passionate about getting to the core of our clients needs – this can only be done through a trusted adviser who understands their goals, takes the time to listen and helps them find the right funding solution for their unique needs – critical to source the right funding solution. 

Today we’re putting the spotlight on the Founder and Managing Director of First Business Finance, David Jordan, whose journey perfectly reflects the determination, resilience and relationship-led approach that continue to define the business today.

From Football Pitches to Finance

Born and raised in Kent, David’s first ambition wasn’t business – it was football.

Having attended local schools, David achieved his childhood dream of becoming a professional footballer with Gillingham Football Club. But after signing professionally at 18, he realised his future lay elsewhere. He joined a rock band and then found a role in sales that attracted him. 

In 1996, David entered the asset finance sector and quickly discovered a passion for helping businesses access the funding they need to grow.

Building a Business During Uncertain Times

In 2008, as much of the financial world was facing unprecedented uncertainty, David took the leap and launched First Business Finance.

His motivation was simple: 

“I loved the industry, I was ambitious, and I wanted to build something of my own.”

Nearly two decades later, that decision has grown into a successful and respected finance brokerage that continues to support businesses across the UK.

Vision and Values

David’s vision has remained remarkably consistent over the years.

“I wanted to build a cutting edge business with a team I could be proud of – and I am.”

Today, as part of the wider SRT & Partners group, that vision continues to evolve through growth, diversification and an unwavering commitment to looking after clients.

For David, success isn’t measured solely by lending volumes or business growth. It’s about sustainable progress, profitability, a strong culture and seeing the people around him succeed.

Leadership Through Relationships

Ask David what has contributed most to the success of First Business Finance and the answer isn’t complicated.

He believes trust and reliability are the foundations of any successful business relationship, whether with clients, lenders or colleagues. It’s an approach that has helped build long-term partnerships and earned the confidence of businesses across a wide range of sectors.

His colleagues would describe him as positive, active and determined – qualities that have helped shape both his leadership style and the culture of the business.

Life Beyond Finance

Away from the office, David remains as competitive and active as ever.

A keen tennis and padel player, he enjoys most racket sports and still spends as much time outdoors as possible. While running has gradually given way to walking, staying active remains an important part of his routine.

One of his proudest personal achievements was completing the Everest Base Camp trek – an experience that reinforced the importance of resilience, discipline and preparation. The lessons learned on the mountain continue to influence his approach to both business and life.

Looking Ahead

As First Business Finance continues to grow, David remains focused on the principles that have been there since day one: personal service, strong relationships and helping businesses achieve their ambitions.

Because while funding products, lenders and markets may change, one thing remains constant:

People buy from people.

And it’s that belief that continues to shape the way First Business Finance supports its clients every day.

The post Who’s Behind First Business Finance? Meet David Jordan, Our Managing Director appeared first on First Business Finance.

The bank isn’t the market – it’s part of the market

What You’ll Learn in This Article:

When a business needs finance, the first instinct is often to contact its bank. While that may seem like the simplest option, it can also mean limiting your choices before you’ve explored what the wider market has to offer.

The UK’s business lending landscape has changed significantly in recent years. Alongside traditional high street banks, there are now specialist lenders, challenger banks and alternative funders offering a wide range of funding solutions for businesses of all sizes and sectors. The challenge is knowing where to look and which lenders are best suited to your requirements.

In this blog, we explore why approaching a commercial finance broker can give businesses access to more options, greater flexibility and a better chance of securing funding that aligns with their objectives. We explain how brokers work, why a decline from one lender doesn’t mean funding isn’t available elsewhere, and how specialist funding solutions such as asset finance can help businesses invest, grow and preserve cashflow.

Whether you’re looking to purchase equipment, fund expansion, release capital from existing assets or simply understand the options available to you, this article highlights why it pays to look beyond a single lender and consider the wider market before making a funding decision.

Read on for more information: 

For most UK business owners, the instinct when they need finance is to call their bank. It’s familiar. But familiar isn’t always best.

When you approach your bank directly, you’re choosing from one set of products assessed against one set of criteria. If your business doesn’t fit – specialist sector, shorter trading history, unusual asset – the answer is no, with no obvious next step.

The UK lending landscape has changed significantly. In 2014, the four largest high street banks accounted for over 80% of SME lending. By 2025 that figure had shifted dramatically, with challenger and specialist banks now accounting for around 60% of all business lending. More competition, more options, more chance of finding terms that actually work for your cash flow – but only if you’re looking across the whole market.

What a broker actually does

A commercial finance broker doesn’t lend money. They understand your situation and go to a panel of lenders to find the right match – knowing which lenders are active in your sector, which have appetite for your deal size, and how to structure an application properly.

The numbers make the case. NACFB data shows that in 2025, its broker members arranged £33 billion in SME lending, considering an average of six lenders per deal. One in four clients had already been declined elsewhere before being successfully funded through a broker.

Being declined by your bank is not the same as being declined by the market.

Asset finance approvals

Asset finance has an approval rate of around 96% when applications are structured correctly – compared to 44% for standard bank loans. Different lenders also have very different sector strengths. A broker who works across them every day knows who is best placed for your specific requirement.

If you only ever ask one lender, you only ever know what one lender can offer.

We’re always happy to have a straightforward conversation. Contact us to discuss your funding requirements or for a funding review. Call 01634 386869 or visit firstbusinessgroup.co.uk.

About First Business Finance

First Business Finance is an independent commercial finance brokerage helping businesses across the UK access the funding solutions they need to invest, grow and achieve their objectives.

With more than 25 years of industry experience and access to a panel of over 50 lenders, First Business Finance supports businesses of all sizes with a wide range of funding solutions, including asset finance, business loans, asset refinance, vehicle finance, invoice finance and commercial mortgages.

At the heart of the business is a relationship-led approach. The team takes the time to understand each client’s circumstances, objectives and challenges before identifying funding solutions tailored to their specific requirements.

The post Commercial Finance Broker vs Bank: Which Is Best for Your Business? appeared first on First Business Finance.

Across the sector, securing new contracts is only part of the challenge. The ability to mobilise quickly, deploy equipment and meet delivery expectations is what ultimately determines whether opportunities can be realised.

Case Study: Funding Critical Site Equipment

We recently supported a client operating within the high-rise construction sector with the funding of key site equipment:

• 2 new passenger hoists
• Total value: £249,995 + VAT
• Structured with a 10% deposit
• VAT deferred for 3 months
• Funded over a 5-year term

This wasn’t simply about acquiring equipment. The objective was to ensure the business could continue to meet growing demand from existing and incoming contracts, while maintaining financial flexibility.

The Challenge: Growth vs Cashflow

In high-rise construction, project timelines are tight and mobilisation windows are short. Equipment such as passenger hoists is not only essential to site operations-it is often required at short notice once contracts are secured.

For many businesses, this creates a familiar tension:

• Invest quickly to meet demand
• Avoid tying up significant capital upfront

Without the right funding structure in place, this can lead to delays, missed opportunities or unnecessary pressure on working capital.

The Solution: Structuring Finance Around the Business

In this case, the funding solution was designed to align with how the business operates:

• A low initial outlay to preserve cash
• VAT deferral to ease short-term pressure
• A structured repayment profile over five years

This approach allowed the client to deploy the equipment immediately, ensuring they could meet project demands without disrupting cashflow or wider operations.

Why Funding Structure Matters

In sectors like construction, it’s not just about securing the work-it’s about having the infrastructure in place to deliver it.

The businesses best positioned for growth are those that plan ahead:

• Aligning funding with project pipelines
• Ensuring equipment can be deployed when needed
• Maintaining flexibility as demand changes

Having the right funding structure in place can be the difference between reacting to opportunities and being ready to act on them.

Looking Ahead

With activity across high-rise construction continuing to build, the need for flexible, well-structured funding is only increasing.

If your business is experiencing similar pressures around growth, capacity or mobilisation, it may be worth reviewing how your current funding arrangements are structured-and whether they are aligned to where your business is heading.

Get in touch

We work closely with a panel of over 50 lenders and help construction businesses to structure funding solutions that reflect how they operate – supporting growth without compromising cashflow. 

We’re just at the end of the phone, call us on 01634 386869.

The post Supporting Growth With Construction Finance appeared first on First Business Finance.