Killer Finance For Growing Businesses
Local businessman Marc McLoughlin has returned to his entrepreneurial roots to launch Orca Finance – driven by his passion for supporting businesses and the people behind them, writes Gail Bailey
“Our mission is to help businesses to get access to the finance they need to maximise their opportunities for growth and success,” explains Marc McLoughlin, the founder of Orca Finance.
“We’re all about helping great businesses run by great people – especially those who are out there making a difference, building thriving purpose-driven, people-centric organisations in their communities. We want to make sure those with excellent ideas don’t see finance as an obstacle.”
Marc, familiar to many in the region from his previous business KeyFleet, has nearly three decades of experience in the finance and leasing sector, having started as an apprentice with Haydock Finance in 1996. KeyFleet, which focused on finance and leasing of vehicles, was sold in 2022 to green technology business, Greenarc, and after a short spell integrating the business with the new ownership, Marc is now back with startup Orca, providing finance and loans to businesses across Lancashire and the North West.
Originally from Great Harwood, Marc’s drive to support businesses comes from his own experience, and knowing first-hand how quickly things can change: “My dad, John, owned snooker and bingo halls in the 70s and 80s and was an incredibly charismatic man who enjoyed great success – he even managed Alex Higgins and several other snooker players over the years. However, by the 90s, due to the pressures of the business in a changing market, and perhaps a few wrong turns, he was taken ill suddenly when I was only 12 and our whole life was turned upside down when he passed away at just 57. I know only too well the devastating impact it can have on the whole family when a business fails – and this is my ‘why’ and my inspiration to help other people be successful and achieve their business goals.”
Being an independent credit brokerage, Orca offers flexible and simple finance for small to medium businesses for machinery, equipment and vehicles – and solutions for commercial loans, invoices and property finance: “The business was many months in the making,” explains Marc.
Even the name Orca was a considered decision aligned with the company’s ethos and values: “The Orca is a great brand concept and they really are awesome creatures with some amazing behaviours and traits such as expert communication, complex social structures, empathy, curiosity and teamwork – and that’s what we are all about!
“I know clients feel that they are in safe hands when they work with us. We’re part of a national broker network lending over £1.5b each year and we have the trust of over 100 lenders who are ready and keen to help fund exciting new and existing businesses. In our portfolio are high street banks and household names, but many are lenders you know little about and would struggle to identify in the open market. There’s such a diverse range of lenders and finance products out there, that’s why our clients need Orca to package the perfect deal and provider for your business needs.”
Marc is joined at Orca by friend and former colleague, Rob Cassidy, who brings a wealth of marketing and business development experience with over 30 years in the sector: “Rob and I understand how important it is to build relationships and communicate with business owners,” says Marc. “Our joined-up ethos of putting people first is at the core of our business. Along with passion and purpose, this is paramount to our success.”
Nowhere does communication work better than by networking and you will regularly see the team out and about across the county and beyond: “We are involved with the East Lancs and Manchester Chambers of Commerce and other networks too and we try to get involved in events and partnerships as much as possible,” he says. “It’s great to meet other businesspeople and be part of a community, organising and attending events, sharing information, best practice and supporting each other – it’s good for business and it’s good fun too!”
At Orca Finance the message is clear – company finance shouldn’t be a mystery. Whatever the size of a business, easy-to-understand financing options that fit the business needs are a must. And importantly the face-to-face approach means you have a personal contact managing your finance application – both reassuring and stress free!
“We launched in April and have already been able to help many businesses arrange asset finance and loans,” Marc says. “We take time to find out the story each business has – to look beyond the numbers and see the narrative. The more information we have the more we communicate to the lender and importantly, match the right lender to the right business.”
Some companies already benefitting from Orca Finance deals range from larger haulage companies and manufacturers to smaller businesses as varied as dog trainers and beauticians: “Finance is the fuel for growth, and we feel honoured to be back working from our Brockhall base supporting local companies and making an impact on their businesses, lives and communities.”
Orca Finance
The Podquarters
9 Conference Centre Offices
Brockhall Village, Old Langho BB6 8AY
01200 504032
info@orcafin.co.uk
orcafin.co.uk
