AFS marks 20th anniversary with annual meet the funder day

AFS marked its 20th anniversary with its annual Meet the Funder day, bringing together 50 exhibitors and 365 brokers and lenders for a full day of networking, lender engagement and shared learning. Now two decades old – and thriving at a scale larger than ever – AFS used the event to demonstrate the strength of its appointed representative (AR) network and the depth of its long-standing lender relationships.

While the day had a firm commercial purpose, it also featured one of the most noticeable – and good-humoured – traditions of the event: an abundance of giveaways. Lenders arrived with umbrellas, mountains of chocolate, branded notepads and pens, mugs, water bottles and even stress balls. Brokers eagerly snapped them up, leaving delighted lenders with lighter bags and no need to carry stock home.

The day was marked by good will, friendliness and open conversation, reminding attendees that collaboration, not competition, is what makes the broker-led channel work.

Brokers remain the dominant route through which SMEs access finance, and as the channel has matured, so too have the compliance expectations placed on how customer journeys are managed. AFS’s model – now supporting 151 ARs – has become a central mechanism for helping brokers navigate these requirements while giving lenders reliable, structured oversight. Its services include centralised compliance support, risk-based reviews, access to a panel of over 100 lenders and a technology platform connecting brokers directly to lender systems. The network ranges from new start-ups to established firms such as Crown Business Finance and Full Metal Finance, reflecting the breadth of AFS’s appeal.

The evening awards ceremony recognised strong performance across the network and opened with an ode to brokers written by Managing Director Lee Simms. His poem underscored a central truth often lost in compliance discussions: that the industry exists to help SMEs achieve their dreams. This line drew a spontaneous round of applause from dinner guests – an unmistakable sign of how strongly the message resonated in a room of people who see that purpose lived out daily, even if regulators and the courts do not always grasp the broker’s role.

As the formal programme ended, celebrations continued late into the night, closing a day that was both a reflection of AFS’s 20-year journey and a reminder of the energy, goodwill and commercial partnership that continue to drive its success.

 Asset Finance Solutions Award winners:

Credit Team of the Year 2025

Winner: United Trust Bank

Sponsored by Penumbra Business Finance

Broker Manager of the Year 2025

Winner: Darren Jones (Novuna)

Sponsored by Fitz Asset Finance

Service Excellence of the Year 2025

Winner: InterBay

Sponsored by Professional Systems Finance

Unsung Hero of the Year 2025

Winner: Amber Chaudhry (Aldermore Bank)

Sponsored by JEC Business Finance Ltd

Deal Of the Year 2025

Winners: Kirkwood Asset Finance (Broker) & InterBay (Funder)

Sponsored by Asset Finance Solutions (UK) Ltd

Funder of the Year

Winner: Haydock Finance

Sponsored by NexGen Business Finance

Finance Industry Person of the Year 2025

Winner: Edward Peck (Asset Finance Connect)

Sponsored by Asset Finance Solutions (UK) Ltd

Long Serving Broker Award

Rob Scollick (Scollick Business Finance)