STAR Asset Finance passes £3bn funding milestone

In September STAR Asset Finance, one of the UK’s leading independent asset finance groups, passed £3 billion in total funding provided to small and medium-sized businesses across the UK since its inception.

The STAR Group was formed in 2014, bringing together four respected independent finance businesses: Kennet Equipment Leasing in Birmingham, Ignition Credit in Cornwall, First Capital Finance in Bournemouth and Credo Capital Finance in Norwich. Each has deep roots in its local market and a proven record of supporting SMEs through every stage of the economic cycle. Together, they form a group with a meaningful impact on the SME finance landscape.

Finance built around the customer

Today STAR offers bussiness loans, asset finance, vehicle finance and a range of other business finance products. It lends from its own balance sheet and also gives customers access to a broad panel of specialist funders, bringing flexibility and choice in finding the right solution.

STAR’s teams have specialist knowledge across sectors including construction and plant, agriculture, marine, hospitality, education, transport, renewable energy and business equipment. Alongside supporting SMEs directly, STAR runs vendor finance partnerships with manufacturers and suppliers, many spanning decades.

STAR has invested heavily in cloud-based origination technology and AI to make applications faster, simpler and more transparent. Every customer still deals with an experienced specialist who understands their sector and their goals.

Jason Hurwitz, Group Chief Executive Officer, STAR Asset Finance, said:

“Passing the £3 billion mark is a proud moment for everyone at STAR. Above all, it’s a testament to the people and teams across our businesses who have built this, deal by deal, over many years. Behind that number are thousands of UK businesses, from builders and farmers to manufacturers, hauliers, schools, and hospitality operators, that have put their trust in STAR to support their investment and growth plans.

“What sets STAR apart is the combination of national strength and genuine local industry knowledge across both direct and dealer channels. Our teams have been doing this for decades. They know their regions and their sectors inside out, and they build relationships that last. I am a strong advocate for using technology to create scalable, efficient, and profitable SME-finance businesses. But technology alone does not create enduring customer relationships. SMEs need speed and simplicity, but they also want authentic expertise, sound judgement, and confidence that someone understands what is at stake. That blend of smart technology and real human expertise is how we’ll deliver the next £3 billion.”