Launch of £50m credit facility to prove ‘life support’ for business

Hitachi Capital Invoice Finance has hired St John Emms to initiate the Yorkshire lending facility, which the firm says was launched to improve businesses’ cash flow and was partly in response to recent figures that show that outstanding debts to UK SMEs have reached a high of £35bn.

John Atkinson, head of commercial business at Hitachi Capital Invoice Finance, said: “We are delighted to have St John Emms on our team and his previous 22 years of experience in the industry means he holds valued expertise allowing him to transfer this knowledge to local businesses. We have a national credit facility of over £500m available for businesses across the UK and with John at the helm of the £50m Yorkshire fund, I am confident it will help businesses in the region grow.”

Mr Emms, who currently lives in Halifax, has spent many years working in and around Hull.

His background includes 34 years of financial sector experience, where he spent 22 years at Natwest and became senior business banking manager.

He then left Natwest and moved into the invoice finance sector, where he spent several years before moving to Hitachi Capital Invoice Finance a year ago.

Mr Emms said: “It’s an exciting new role and I know my previous industry experience will help support SMEs across the region.

“Cash flow management is essential for any business to succeed and the £50m facility will prove a life support and vital expansion tool for Yorkshire businesses.”