12 | Management Consulting Awards 2024 Best Business Funding Consultancy 2024 - South East England In Stuart’s experience – which spans more than a decade in the realm of financial services – clients are often unaware of exactly what they have paid for, how financial products work, and the range of options that are available to them. This is why he set up Kingston Finance back in 2022, disrupting the market by introducing a consultancy firm that spends time with clients to understand their needs, before creating and then applying a bespoke solution that more than exceed their expectations, regardless of the complexity of their circumstances. Following on from this signature approach, Kingston Finance has made its presence felt in a number of different areas, from consumer buy-to-let mortgages to debt consolidation and everything in between. It is Kingston Finance’s expertise concerning business funding however that really caught our eye, a service suite which includes SME business loans as well as asset and invoice finance. The firm is so passionate about its abilities in fact, it claims that if it is unable to secure funding for a business, then it simply cannot be done. Aside from helping its clients to secure business loans, something made possible by its robust network of flexible and responsive UK lenders, Kingston Finance also utilises its expertise to offer up invaluable advice, be it for a start-up, an expansion, or a new acquisition. Because this team are so passionate about business growth, their services are fully managed from the application stage right through to the transferring of the funds, with other standout elements including competitive rates, flexible loan terms, and zero upfront fees. Transparency comes as standard across the company’s service suite, and whether a client operates in a residential or a commercial setting, Kingston Finance is determined to clear up the misconceptions around applying for finance and finance itself. “We use a simple model based on three principles of any application – purpose, security, and affordability”, explains Stuart. “We use these principles throughout our consultations as they helps us to identify any potential issues and appropriate solutions”, as well as to structure the sessions. Only after this consultation does the preparing of the application begin, again in line with the three focus areas laid out in the model. For Stuart, “the beauty of this model is that it is transferrable to either residential or commercial clients”, but in the case of the latter, a post-case review is also carried out, which is incredibly beneficial as it allows future plans to be discussed, and insight provided into how these can be achieved. The principles in this case are slightly different, with cashflow and exit being brought into the fold. Aiding Kingston Finance in its quest are a number of highly sophisticated sourcing systems, which are used to help the team identify the relevant financial products for a client based on the needs and requirements they have laid out. Despite similar systems existing, what makes this company’s particular one unique is that it pulls data directly from its network of lenders and produces accurate illustrations encompassing this information. Used also as a CRM system, this one-stop-shop solution streamlines this process considerably. Technology is undoubtedly a big part of Kingston Finance, but its emphasis remains on the importance of human contact. As Stuart rightfully points out, “how can you build a rapport with someone over Zoom/Teams? How can you read a person’s body language? How can you put a nervous or a cynical person at ease if you’re five miles away when you speak to them? What kind of message does that give to the client?” In-person consultation thus remains the business’ foundation, something that will not be changing any time soon. Stuart Johnston has always tried to follow his own path when it comes to Kingston Finance Ltd, and the client-centric, peoplefirst approach he has employed makes his business more than deserving of this best-inclass award. For anything from SME finance to remortgage solutions, look no further than this comprehensive financial broker operating at the forefront of the South East’s financial markets. Contact: Stuart Johnston Company: Kingston Finance Ltd Web Address: https://www.kingstonfinanceltd.com/ Sep24010 Located squarely in the beating heart of London, Kingston Finance Ltd is a financial broker serving the entire market, providing its clients with a suite of residential and commercial finance solutions. From first-time buyers to small and medium businesses alike, individuals from all walks of life can benefit from the firm’s services, which leverage a holistic approach to financial journeys so as to improve the image of brokers everywhere. We speak with Founder Stuart Johnston for more.
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