The Five Minute Interview with Ash Kendall, UK Originator, Fiduciam

By Tony Sanchez 4th April 2019

Fiduciam is a pension-fund owned bridging and marketplace lender to entrepreneurs and small and medium-sized enterprises.

Granting business bridge loans to provide working capital or to finance expansion plans, standard rental loans to landlords who wish to extend their real estate portfolio and permitted development loans, to contractors and developers for straightforward construction projects.

With its flexible, efficient and competitive approach to lending it helps small and medium sized businesses grow and prosper.

We speak to UK originator, Ash Kendall:

What is the best thing about being in the bridging finance business?

Every day is a new challenge with different problems to be solved. Whether this is to assist with a purchase inside two weeks or provide working capital to allow the client’s business to survive, there is always a different story behind every transaction.

What keeps you focused?

With the ever-changing conditions of the finance environment, it’s difficult not to stay focused. To maintain a successful loan book, we need to adapt to the environment quickly and efficiently.

I also believe hard work delivers success and being successful in this industry is a personal long-term goal of mine.

What qualities do you look for in your employees or colleagues?

Hard-working, reliable and open for a good laugh.

Are you an optimist or a pessimist?

I am certainly an optimist, I believe the right attitude will take you far in life above anything else and I have seen this pay off for me even in my relatively early career.

What did you want to be as a child?

A policeman.

What will be the greatest challenge facing the bridging finance industry in the coming months?

Apart from the ever-present political issues we are exposed to as an industry, I also think that advances in technology will challenge the bridging finance industry, this is due to the fact there will be more disrupters and augmented platforms which will in turn affect the way we lend.

The key aspect of this challenge is how fast the current players in the industry can adapt to the changing environment to maintain a competitive advantage.

Who or what makes you laugh?

The original Top Gear trio, still a massive fan of them.

Do you dread Monday mornings?

Not really, I’ve always been a morning person. It’s early nights I struggle with.

If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be?

My tendency to always be carrying an injury. I cannot remember the last time I was 100% physically fit.

With whom would you most like to have dinner?

Leonardo Di Caprio. Excellent actor and a powerful environmentalist, it would be a pleasure to sit down with him.