Neil Davidson, managing director at Edinburgh-based broker Alderburn Finance Solutions (pictured above), became a partner of the alternative finance provider in 2016.

An experienced professional in the finance industry, Neil has a track record of matching SMEs across Scotland and the North East of England with the type of funding that best suits their needs.

When asked why his partnership had been so successful over the last 18 months, Neil replied: “They think the same way as I do; I value ThinCats understanding of risk.

“While they are not lending themselves, they do ensure the loans presented to their investors are of good quality.

“This is time and effort well spent and it provides confidence and consistency to both borrower and lender.

“If the loan request is marginal, ThinCats try to work out how the deal could be done, rather than look for reasons why it shouldn’t be done.

“This is an important differentiation with some other lenders in the marketplace, and makes my job much easier.”

According to Neil, one of the most important aspects of his role is assessing whether he would choose to invest his own money in the business.

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“I need to get the right feeling; this aspect is helped by the number of years that I have been in the industry, and the sheer number of businesses that I have spoken to over the years.

“The answer is nearly always there after my first meeting with the client.  

“Do I thoroughly understand the business and the opportunity? 

“Does the management team really impress me – is it inspirational? 

“Do they have an excellent understanding of their business and the market?

“If the answers to these questions are yes, then my job is simply to understand the detail, to help the client present their borrowing case to the lender in a concise, accurate and balanced presentation, and to ensure that lenders have the information necessary for them to make their own judgement on whether to lend.”

It is not always that straightforward, however, as Neil believed there were sometimes challenges that needed to be worked through first.

“When my initial reaction is ‘no’, I don’t immediately walk away – I’m always upfront with my reasons and try to help the client as far as I can; it may be that the funding can be accessed further down the line, with some work and changes from the client’s point of view.”