A new UK specialist finance platform, SME Funded, has launched with the aim of transforming how small and medium-sized businesses in the construction and manufacturing sectors access funding, connecting business owners with more than 130 lenders alongside its own deployed capital in a market where traditional finance routes frequently fall short.

Scottish Financial News reported that SME Funded was founded by construction mergers and acquisitions expert Bradley Lay, who brings extensive experience across corporate finance and construction, having scaled a business from £12m (€14.4m) to more than £150m (€179m) in revenue before a successful exit in 2022, and having previously co-founded Peak Capital Group and TrueNorth Capital Group.

The platform offers a range of funding solutions tailored to construction and manufacturing businesses, including business loans, asset finance, equipment finance, bridging and property finance, motor finance, and software finance, each structured around the individual business with a focus on supporting growth and unlocking working capital.

Lay said: "SMEs are the backbone of the UK economy, yet when it comes to finance, they're often underserved. Traditional lenders are slow, restrictive and risk averse. When businesses are growing, they hold them back and when they're under pressure, they step away. We built SME Funded to change that. This is about giving business owners real access to capital, quickly, intelligently and without unnecessary barriers."

SME Funded takes what it describes as a white-glove approach, working closely with clients from initial application through to funding, structuring deals and positioning businesses to secure the best possible outcomes.

A spokesperson said the firm's role goes beyond finding a lender, adding that the team structures funding properly, tells the right story, and manages the entire process so clients can focus on running and growing their business.

Read the full SME Funded launch story here.