The peer-to-peer lender was founded in 2010 and has since helped SMEs to bridge the shortfall in available finance.

The news follows ThinCats recent launch of its new two-tiered grading system for all loans on the platform’s primary market to provide investors with another level of information so they can assess the quality of a loan.

Kevin Caley, founder and chairman of ThinCats, was also a key player in helping the Peer-to-Peer Finance Association (P2PFA) put together a landmark study on the industry.

The Oxera Report looks at the economics of peer-to-peer lending and the regulatory framework in which P2PFA members operate, while also addressing concerns about the sector.

Kevin felt that despite the success of the industry, there were still a number of challenges facing it that regulators need to address.

“The Oxera Report provides a candid view of the economic impact of peer-to-peer lending, the risks associated with investing, the extent to which investors are aware of these risks, and goes some way to debunk many of the myths and misunderstandings that have stuck to the sector over the years.

“It highlights the many innovative approaches to managing risk and return, and varying levels of intermediation in the platform design.”

Kevin claimed that ThinCats was the second platform to launch in the UK and was proud to still champion many of the features that still attract investors.

“These include the autonomy to pick individual loans and to bid through an auction to achieve the best platform market rate, with loan security and a trusted sponsor network ensuring loan quality.

"After almost five years, ThinCats investors continue to receive high average returns in excess of 7%, and I hope the findings of this report contribute to the groundswell of support for a sector that is now well and truly coming of age."