Bristol-based invoice finance specialist Optimum Finance has opened an office in London’s Mayfair as it continues to serve a growing national client base.
Just three years after being launched by Richard Pepler, the former chief executive and co-founder of Bristol-based factoring group Ultimate Finance, Optimum has rapidly developed and broadened its operations throughout the UK. 
The firm, which provides tailored funding for SMEs to enable them to release cash tied up in client invoices, now employs 28 people, including regional sales directors covering the North, Midlands, London and South East.
The Mayfair office, Optimum Finance’s second, builds on its growing presence in London and the South East.
The firm has recently welcomed some high-profile clients in the region, including Hope & Ivy, a fast-growth UK fashion business specialising in occasion wear which appeared on Dragons’ Den in 2016.
Hope & Ivy co-founder Beth Chilton said: “We were looking for a more flexible approach from our finance provider as the traditional banking style does not work for the changing needs of our business as we grow.
“The Optimum Finance team worked with us to put together a tri-party agreement which includes invoice finance as well as trade finance and they gave us a better deal than we had previously.
“We’re entering another period of rapid growth and expansion and we are looking to move into the US market next year, so having a reliable funding partner is vital.”
Optimum Finance regional sales director for London and the South East Mike Stevens said: “It’s been a hugely successful year for the firm and we’re pleased to be working with such a range of SMEs to deliver bespoke, cost-effective and flexible funding solutions.
“We’re ending 2019 on a strong note with 2020 set to be another year of growth as we continue our focus on developing proprietary technology and improving the efficiency of the finance function which is essential to the future success of small businesses.”
Optimum Finance CEO Richard Pepler added: “Having a base in London is testament to our business aspirations and expertise in supporting the companies forming the backbone of the UK economy to manage their cash flow and drive growth.
“Our commitment to combining traditional commercial customer service and commercial underwriting with state-of-the-art fintech is driving our ever-expanding client base as we develop our reputation as a trusted lender in the receivables finance space.”
The firm achieved a 22.5% increase in revenue in September compared with the same period last year.
