Andy Traynor to spearhead FW Capital’s push into
Lancashire and Cumbria
14 November 2011
FW
Capital, the company which manages the North West Fund for Business
Loans, has expanded its team in the North West. Former business
banker, Andy Traynor has joined the company as an investment
executive.
FW Capital has already lent over £2.5 million from the Fund
since its launch in December 2010 and Traynor will now spearhead
the push into Lancashire and Cumbria from the company’s Riversway
office in Preston.
Traynor is a well-known face in the local business community and
his banking career spans some 31 years. This includes a number of
roles in his 27 years at Barclays as well as a stint at Dunbar Bank
more recently.
Welcoming Traynor to the team, Fund Manager Gary Guest said:
“Demand has really taken off since we started lending in the North
West and we’ve been really impressed by the vision and commitment
of some of the businesses we’ve met.
“We now need to increase our focus in Lancashire and Cumbria and
Andy is well placed to do this. He’s an experienced banker who’s
worked with SMEs before so he understands the pressures they face
and how to structure the loan finance they need to achieve their
plans.”
Traynor spent his last 7 years at Barclays in its
Lancashire-based lending team working with a range of SMEs,
including those in the area’s established manufacturing sector.
Traynor is excited at the prospect of working with SMEs again:
“Both Lancashire and Cumbria have a distinctive mix of businesses,
including SMEs operating in a range of sectors. Many are well
established and their management teams very committed.
“I’m looking forward to working with many of my old contacts as
well as making some new contacts. I’m keen to explain that the
North West Fund for Business Loans has different lending criteria
to the banks and to see how a loan could help their or their
clients’ plans.”
The £35 million North West Fund for Business Loans can make
loans of between £50,000 and £250,000 to viable small and
medium-sized businesses (SMEs) based in the North West of
England.
The North West Fund for Business Loans is supported by the
European Regional Development Fund and the European Investment
Bank.
Guest is excited about FW Capital’s expansion into Lancashire
and Cumbria: “We’ve already built up a strong network of banks and
advisers in the North West who regularly refer clients to us and
the banks continue to be a particularly strong source of referrals
for us.
“The North West Fund is already making a real difference to SMEs
in the North West, so it’s good news that we’re expanding our reach
into Lancashire and Cumbria. I’d urge SMEs, banks and advisers in
the area to contact Andy on 07879 690468 to chat through the
options that are available.”
Andy Leach, chief executive of North West Business Finance, the
not-for-profit company set up to deliver The North West Fund
welcomed the appointment: “In the current economic climate, Andy’s
extensive experience in banking and lending to regional SMEs will,
I’m sure, prove to be invaluable in further building the momentum
that FW Capital has already created since The North West Fund for
Business Loans was established 10 months ago.”
Media enquiries
Helen Walker-Smith
Tel: 029 2033 8149
E-mail: helen.walker-smith@fwcapital.co.uk