TL;DR — Are UK Business Loans’ partners aligned with the FCA?

Short answer: we expect partners to align their marketing and customer communications with the FCA principle that all financial promotions must be clear, fair and not misleading. UK Business Loans performs onboarding checks, reviews promotional materials and monitors partner performance and complaints. We are an introducer and do not lend or provide regulated advice; the providers we connect you with will supply formal terms and full cost information before you commit. Start a free eligibility check: Free Eligibility Check.

Why FCA-aligned communications matter for manufacturers

Manufacturing is capital-intensive. Equipment purchases, plant upgrades and seasonal working capital create significant financial commitments. That makes transparent, accurate and timely information essential so you can compare real costs, understand security and plan cashflow.

Here’s why clarity and fairness are important for you:

• Long-term impact: financing terms can affect balance sheet and future borrowing capacity.
• Asset security: equipment or property may be used as security — you need to know consequences of default.
• Complex representative examples: equipment finance often has fees, VAT and end-of-term options that should be explained clearly.
• Cashflow planning: invoice and working capital finance require straightforward cost and covenant disclosure so day-to-day operations aren’t disrupted.

How UK Business Loans vets and monitors partners

We act as an introducer. We do not lend or give regulated advice. To help ensure the firms we introduce you to provide accurate and helpful information, we follow a documented partner process that includes:

1. Initial onboarding checks — identity, business registration, insurance, complaints handling and references.
2. Regulatory and standards review — we review publicly available regulatory status where applicable and require partners to confirm they follow applicable rules on promotions and customer treatment.
3. Financial promotion review — partners submit sample marketing and price illustrations for review. We check that claims are not exaggerated and representative examples are included where necessary.
4. Data protection & consent — partners must demonstrate compliant data handling, clear consent for sharing your details and responsible use of credit checks.
5. Ongoing monitoring — periodic reviews of promotional content, performance metrics (response times, complaint rates) and user feedback.
6. Escalation — if a partner’s promotions or behaviour raise concerns, we suspend referrals while the issue is investigated.

We expect partners to provide clear written terms and fully itemised costs before any agreement is signed. If you want to explore finance options for manufacturing specifically, see our dedicated page on manufacturing business loans.

Get Quote Now

What “clear, fair and not misleading” means in practice

Translated into plain English, firms must ensure promotions and communications:

• State the product or service clearly and identify any material limitations or eligibility criteria.
• Present costs honestly — headline rates must be qualified and any fees or representative examples shown.
• Include prominent, balanced information about risks, security requirements and potential outcomes.
• Avoid guarantees or absolute promises unless those guarantees are legally enforceable and clearly explained.

Example — compliant wording for an equipment loan promotion:

Equipment finance from 6.9% APR representative for businesses meeting lender criteria. Typical offer: £50,000 over 48 months with monthly repayments of approximately £1,182 and an arrangement fee of 1.5% (£750). Actual rate depends on company accounts, security and credit checks. Full terms provided on application.

Our Business Finance Matching Process

Step 1

Complete Your Details

It takes just 1 minute on average to complete your business and contact details.

Step 2

We Match Your Business

With the best business finance broker or lender most suitable for your needs.

Step 3

You Get Free Quote + Advice

You receive a free quote along with complimentary expert financial advice.

It’s fast and free to get a quote from one of the UK’s leading finance brokers / lenders who will contact you directly with your quote/s.

Contrast that with a misleading claim: “Lowest rates — guaranteed” (no qualifications, no representative example) — this would not meet the standard of being clear and not misleading.

How FCA expectations apply to common manufacturing finance types

Asset / equipment finance

Required disclosures should cover the rate (or range), fees, VAT treatment, maintenance responsibilities, early repayment terms and end-of-term options (e.g. ownership, balloon payment, refinance).

Invoice finance

Providers should show advance rates, fees (service, admin, renewal), charge rates on unpaid invoices, and the effect on your working capital. Any client notification arrangements should be explained.

Working capital / cashflow loans

Clarity on interest rates (fixed vs variable), arrangement fees, loan covenants, security requirements and early repayment penalties.

Commercial property / refinance

Breakdown of interest, valuation and legal fees, security structure, and any redemption or break costs for existing facilities.

What you will see from our partners: transparency & evidence

After you submit an enquiry we ensure partners provide:

• Provider identity and whether you’ll deal with a broker or lender.
• Key terms overview — indicative rate ranges, fees, typical loan sizes and terms.
• Timeline — expected decision and drawdown times.
• Credit check type — clear statement whether a soft or hard credit search will be used and when.
• Consent confirmation — we only share the details you authorise.

Example compliant promotion snippet you might receive:

“Indicative equipment finance offers from selected partners: rates typically 7–12% APR depending on your company trading history and security offered. Arrangement fees typically 0.5–2%. This is not an offer; full written terms given on application.”

What happens when you submit an enquiry

1. Complete our short form (approx. 2 minutes) — tell us the amount you need (we handle £10,000+), the purpose (machinery, working capital, refinance), and contact details.
2. We match your request to suitable lenders/brokers and share your details only with those you consent to.
3. A partner will contact you with a no-obligation quote, explaining whether the credit check is soft or hard.
4. You receive written terms before committing so you can compare offers and make an informed choice.

Your enquiry does not affect your credit score. When a hard search is needed, partners will tell you before they run it. Ready to compare options? Start Your Enquiry.

Real-world examples — anonymised manufacturing scenarios

Red flags & what to ask lenders and brokers

Ask these questions before you commit:

• What is the full APR or representative cost and how was it calculated?
• What fees apply (arrangement, administration, valuation, exit)?
• What security is required and what happens on late payment?
• Are there any early repayment charges or balloon payments at term end?
• Will this trigger a hard credit search and when?
• Can I see written terms and a worked example for my loan amount?

Watch for these warning signs:

• Guarantees of approval with no checks.
• No written terms or refusal to provide representative examples.
• Hidden fees only revealed after you proceed.
• Pressure to accept the deal immediately without time to review documents.

Final reassurance & how to start

UK Business Loans is an introducer that helps you get clear, comparable quotes from lenders and brokers so you can choose the best fit for your manufacturing business. We require partners to provide transparent information and we monitor partner conduct — but you will always receive formal written terms from the lender or broker before proceeding.

No obligation, free eligibility check: Get Quote Now

FAQ

Is UK Business Loans a lender?

No. We introduce businesses to lenders and brokers; we do not lend money or provide regulated financial advice.

Are your partners required to follow FCA financial promotion rules?

We expect partners to align their communications with the FCA principle that promotions must be clear, fair and not misleading. During onboarding and through ongoing checks we review partner materials and behaviour. We do not claim that all partners are regulated by the FCA.

Will submitting an enquiry affect my credit score?

No. Completing the enquiry form does not affect your credit score. Partners will tell you when a soft or hard credit check will be used.

What information do you share with lenders and brokers?

We share only the information you provide in the form and only with selected partners you consent to. You can see our full privacy policy on the site.

How long before I hear back?

You’ll typically get contact within a few hours during business hours; sometimes much faster depending on partner availability and urgency of the enquiry.

Ready to receive tailored quotes and compare options? Free Eligibility Check