Intro & important disclosure

Cashflow gaps, machine purchases, tender bonds and rapid scaling are common issues for engineering firms. Finding the right funder can make or break a project. UK Business Loans connects engineering companies with UK-based brokers and lenders who specialise in business finance for engineering sectors.

Important: UK Business Loans is an introducer/introducer service only — we do not lend and do not provide regulated financial advice. We connect businesses with UK-based brokers and lenders. Completing our enquiry form gives us the information we need to match you with the most appropriate partners; it is not a loan application.

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Why engineering firms choose specialist finance partners

Engineering businesses have specific financing needs: capital-intensive machinery, bespoke tooling, contract deposits, performance bonds and pause/flow in revenue when contracts stage-pay. Specialist lenders understand equipment lifecycles, useful economic lives for assets, and how to underwrite contract-backed cashflows.

Compared with general high-street products, specialist brokers and lenders can often provide tailored structures (hire purchase, lease, asset refinance, invoice finance) and accept asset types that mainstream lenders won’t. That means faster decisions, more realistic valuations and funding that aligns with project timelines.

Example: an SME manufacturing precision parts used a hire purchase facility to buy a CNC centre. Rather than a standard term loan, the solution matched repayment profiles to the machine’s revenue contribution — reducing monthly strain and letting the business take a new contract.

What UK Business Loans does for engineering firms

We simplify finding finance. Our role is practical and straightforward:

1. Receive a short enquiry with key business details and the purpose of funding.
2. Match your needs to lenders and brokers who specialise in your sector and finance type.
3. Pass your contact details (only with your consent) to selected partners so they can offer quotes or call to discuss options.
4. Help you compare offers and understand costs so you can pick the best fit.

We prioritise speed and relevance — you’ll typically hear from a broker or lender quickly. Remember: any offer or quote comes from the lender or broker and is subject to their terms and checks. Our introduction is free and without obligation.

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Types of finance engineering firms commonly need

Asset & equipment finance (HP, leasing)

Funding to buy new or used machinery, plant and tooling. Hire purchase and finance leases are common: HP leads to ownership at the end of term, leasing preserves working capital and can offer tax advantages depending on structure.

Machinery finance & hire purchase

Hire purchase spreads the cost of capital equipment while matching repayments to the asset’s income—useful for CNCs, presses and other high-value items.

Commercial loans & working capital

Term loans for expansion or unsecured/secured working capital facilities to smooth cashflow between milestones on larger contracts.

Invoice finance & factoring

Release cash tied up in unpaid invoices. Invoice finance helps firms working on long payment cycles or large sub-contractor chains.

Contract / performance bonds & tender finance

Specialist facilities to support bidding, stand as contract security, or cover performance guarantees required by larger clients or frameworks.

Green / energy-efficiency finance

Funding for sustainability investments like energy-efficient machinery, EV chargers or low-carbon upgrades — often with favourable terms for qualifying projects.

Refinance & consolidation

Restructure existing facilities to reduce monthly cost, improve covenants, or free cash for operations.

How we match your engineering business to the right UK brokers & lenders

We use a structured, sector-aware approach to ensure the matches are relevant and timely. The process is transparent and repeatable:

Step 1 — Quick enquiry

Tell us the basics: company name, turnover band, years trading, purpose of the finance, approximate amount needed, and contact details. You’ll also confirm consent to share your details with selected partners. The form is informational only and does not affect your credit score.

Step 2 — Intelligent matching

We filter our panel by product type (asset finance, invoice finance, term loan, bonds), sector experience (engineering, manufacturing), credit appetite and geographic coverage. That cuts out unsuitable providers and targets those most likely to help.

Step 3 — Partner selection

We select a small number of brokers and lenders that have previously placed similar deals or who explicitly underwrite your requested product and size.

Step 4 — Outreach & response

Partners contact you directly to discuss the specifics. Expect a call or email in hours to 48 hours depending on complexity. They’ll ask for supporting documents to produce accurate quotes.

Step 5 — Compare offers

Compare interest rates, fees, term, required security, and any early repayment conditions. We encourage asking for representative APR examples and full fee breakdowns.

Step 6 — Completion

Once you pick a provider, the broker or lender manages underwriting, valuations and documentation through to drawdown. We remain available to help if you need clarification.

We only share your details with selected partners and only with your consent. See our Privacy Policy for full details.

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Eligibility — what engineering firms lenders look for

Exact criteria vary by lender and product but common items include:

• Limited company registration details and length of trading (many lenders prefer at least 12 months; specialist funders consider shorter trading histories for asset-backed deals).
• Turnover bands and recent management accounts.
• Bank statements (usually last 3 months).
• VAT status and details of major contracts or order book.
• Details of the asset (make, model, price) for equipment finance or copies of invoices for invoice finance.

If you have previous adverse credit or limited history, specialist brokers can often source options (asset finance, specialist alternative lenders or invoice finance) that mainstream banks won’t consider.

Prepare: company registration number, recent accounts, 3 months’ bank statements, VAT returns (if applicable) and a short description of the funding purpose.

Typical turnaround times & what speeds approval up

Response times depend on facility type:

• Simple asset finance quotes: often within 24–48 hours.
• Invoice finance: decision within 24–72 hours, funding once checks and onboarding complete.
• Contract bonds and tender finance: can be rapid if documentation is in order, but may need underwriter review.

Speed tips: provide accurate paperwork first time, respond quickly to partner queries, and be prepared for asset inspections or valuations where required.

Fees, rates & transparency

UK Business Loans does not set rates or fees — lenders and brokers do. Typical costs to compare include interest rate (or factor fee for invoice finance), arrangement fees, valuation or inspection fees, and early repayment charges.

Always ask for a full schedule of costs and a representative APR or total cost example so you can compare like-for-like across proposals. Consider not just monthly payments but total cost over the term.

Trust, data protection & compliance

We are an introducer only — we do not lend or give regulated financial advice. We take data protection seriously: all enquiries are transmitted securely and shared only with partners who we believe can meet your needs and only with your permission.

Before proceeding with a lender or broker, check their credentials and ask them to confirm any regulatory status and terms. Use our Privacy Policy and Terms pages for full details on how we handle your information.

Frequently asked questions

Ready to get a fast quote?

Get a free, no-obligation eligibility check and we’ll match your engineering business to the lenders and brokers best placed to help. It takes just a few minutes and is not a loan application.

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