MSP Capital repeats coveted award win

By Bridging Loan Directory 30th March 2023

Property finance specialist MSP Capital has won a prestigious industry award for the second year running.

The 42-year-old firm was named Non-Bank Lender of the Year at the 2023 Solent Deals Awards, repeating its success in the same category last year.

The Awards’ three independent judges, and award sponsor Ellis Jones, made their choice in recognition of MSP Capital’s 30% year-on-year lending growth in its heartland region and across the South.

The nomination showcased the impact that MSP Capital has had on funding property businesses in the Solent, with a total loan book value for the area of over half a billion pounds over the past seven years.

Development and bridging finance from MSP Capital, typically ranging from £75,000 to £20 million, supports a wide range of essential activity primarily in the residential market but also among commercial property developers.

The growth in lending has seen MSP Capital expand its Poole-based team of property professionals, including underwriters, valuers, compliance managers and analysts, to 41.

Rachel Bartlett, MSP Capital’s Marketing Manager, said:

“It’s been a brilliant year for us in terms of growing the team and demonstrating what we can offer as a specialist lender that provides fixed rate lending – bringing certainty and confidence to our clients at a time when base rates have been increasing.

With 42 years in business, we have weathered many economic storms, we know the property industry well and we can offer our clients the flexibility and certainty they need when the markets are changing.

Despite a rocky, post-pandemic climate, we’ve remained flexible and agile when it comes to our clients’ needs and been able to say ‘yes’ to more clients than ever before, supporting worthy businesses and addressing the ongoing UK housing shortage by making more development projects a reality.

We increased our headcount by over 40% because the business is growing quickly and this expansion means we can make sure we continue to offer clients the kind of relationship-led lending that we are so proud of.

As a result, clients keep returning to MSP Capital to fund their next projects. One in every four of the deals we have agreed in the Solent in the past year has been for a returning borrower.”

Among the specific deals highlighted in MSP Capital’s award nomination was a bespoke funding solution designed to give Captiva Homes extra finance flexibility to complete a 28-home development, including ten affordable homes, on the Isle of Wight.

The housebuilder has since reported success in all metrics such as reservation rates, sales activity and achieving final revenue targets.

Commenting on the funding solution, Captiva Homes Director James Pink said:

“From the moment we spoke to MSP Capital about the project, they were keen to help and came up with a bespoke solution for us in less than 48 hours.

We have worked with them before on a number of projects and always been happy with their service, but they excelled themselves on this one. Their speed and flexibility have been outstanding.”

Reflecting its ‘Experience Beyond Finance’ strapline, MSP Capital’s social responsibilities were another central factor in the nomination.

They include a commitment to try, wherever possible, to prioritise local suppliers, including professional services firms, surveyors and IT contractors, over national providers.

On community support, the firm’s Community Committee has raised over £20,000 for local charities over the year with sponsored activities by colleagues netting more than £11,000 for children’s hospice Julia’s House alone.

Supporting communities is also a central aspect of MSP Capital’s continued partnership with local Premier League club AFC Bournemouth.

And for the property industry, an in-house ‘green team’ has led a research project focusing on sustainable developers’ needs and how to help them address climate change.

MSP Capital succeeded against three other finalists to win the Non-Bank Lender award, one of 14 awards categories.

The awards ceremony was held along with a gala dinner in the Hilton at the Ageas Bowl near Southampton.

An audience of 300 finalists, guests and sponsors were hosted by TV presenter Mark Durden-Smith.

Richard Thompson, Managing Director of Awards organiser The Business Magazine, said:

“Again this year, there was an unprecedented number of nominations and much debate by the judges before agreeing on finalists and winners.”

During the evening, £3,135 was raised for the medical research charity Brain Tumour Research.

MSP Capital is also on the shortlist for a national accolade, Financier of the Year – Residential, at the RESI Awards, held to celebrate success across the UK’s residential property market.

Winners are due to be announced in May 2023.