company - Copal. In 2015, three years after launching that business, they applied for a bank loan and the ‘computer said ‘no’’, despite their business being profitable. The products, services, and experience needed to make their lives as a scaling business easier, and enable them to reach their full potential, were ‘missing’ from banks’ offerings.

As entrepreneurs, their response was to build what was missing: a neobank for entrepreneurs, by entrepreneurs.

To date, its bespoke debt finance solutions have supported property developers, care homes, specialist schools and nurseries, hotels, bars and restaurants, pub operators, as well as fund and specialist finance providers. With a range of specialist secured and unsecured business loans, OakNorth caters to the growth plans of businesses, without asking them to give up equity.

Despite experiencing not one, but two unprecedented events – Brexit and COVID-19 – since its launch, the bank has continued supporting growth businesses across the UK. It’s lent over £10 billion to date, directly helping with the creation of almost tens of thousands of new jobs and new homes (the significant majority of which are affordable and social housing).

Its data-led approach allows it to look at the future, rather than just fixating on the past, meaning it avoids making decisions based on outdated financials. Using data and analytics, it builds up a granular view of every business in its portfolio, combining this with forward-looking scenario analysis, to enable it to be a trusted funding partner as the business scales, and continue confidently lending through economic cycles and unprecedented events.

By behaving as reliable, long-term partners to its customers throughout the pandemic, rather than just bankers, it has been able to make them its best advocates. As a result, c.80% of its new lending comes via referrals, and 40% of its borrowers are repeat customers.