Summer Awards 2026: Who’s leading the market right now?

The Community Awards recognise the lenders, providers and brokers delivering outstanding performance across asset, auto, equipment and receivables finance.

They sit at the heart of the Finance Connect Summer Awards, representing one of the clearest opportunities for organisations across the industry to be recognised by their peers.

With 11 categories in the Community group, the awards are open to organisations of every size and specialism – from challenger banks and fintech lenders to independent providers, vendor finance specialists and brokerages.

If your organisation has delivered strong results, innovation or meaningful impact over the past 12 months, this is your chance to showcase that success.

You can review the categories below and consider where your performance merits recognition.

Enter a Community Award: https://afcawardsuk.com/2026/en/page/categories

Don’t delay as entries close on Friday 1 May 2026.

Provider Awards — enter as a company

Asset Finance Provider of the Year – Sponsored by LTi Technology Solutions

Open to: UK challenger banks, SME lenders, independent and broker-originated lenders.

This award recognises an outstanding asset finance provider demonstrating excellence, innovation and leadership across the sector.

A strong entry will highlight significant achievements in asset finance delivery, measurable improvements to customer outcomes, strategic developments that set your organisation apart, and your contribution to the broader asset finance community.

Auto Finance Provider of the Year

Open to: UK and European providers, captives, fleet, fintech lenders and mobility providers.

This category recognises a market-leading consumer and/or business auto finance provider delivering exceptional value for customers, partners, employees and the wider community.

Entries should demonstrate enhancements to the customer journey, product or digital innovations introduced this year, a strong approach to responsible lending, and the role sustainability or EV initiatives play in your strategy.

Equipment Finance Provider of the Year

Open to: UK and European providers, vendor finance providers and manufacturer captives.

This award recognises a leading equipment finance provider delivering strong performance and innovative solutions that create value for customers, partners and the wider community.

Successful entries will show how businesses have been supported in acquiring essential equipment, the flexible or tailored solutions offered, innovations introduced in the past year, and the measurable business impact enabled through funding.

Factoring Finance Provider of the Year ★ NEW

Open to: Factoring finance providers.

This new category celebrates excellence in factoring solutions that support SME cashflow, stability and confidence.

A strong entry will demonstrate how your factoring solutions support business cashflow and resilience, the service standards and credit management expertise that differentiate your organisation, and examples of customer success or growth enabled through factoring.

Invoice Finance Provider of the Year ★ NEW

Open to: Invoice finance providers.

This award recognises providers delivering flexible invoice finance solutions combined with outstanding service and transparency.

Entries should highlight the flexibility of your solutions, measurable outcomes achieved by clients through your funding, and innovations or service improvements introduced in the past year.

Asset Based Lending Provider of the Year ★ NEW

Open to: ABL providers and brokers.

This category celebrates organisations delivering structured, scalable asset-based lending solutions that support complex funding needs and long-term business growth.

Strong entries will demonstrate the types of ABL solutions offered, the clients you serve, examples of structured deals or impactful funding delivered, and how you balance risk management with flexibility to achieve strong outcomes for clients.

Broker Awards

Large Asset Broker of the Year – Sponsored by Allica Bank

Recognising large brokerages demonstrating scale, professionalism and consistently strong outcomes for their clients.

Specialist Asset Broker of the Year

Awarded to smaller brokerages delivering specialist expertise, strong lender relationships and excellent client advocacy.

Receivables Finance Broker of the Year ★ NEW

Recognising specialist brokers delivering excellence in receivables finance advisory and lender partnership management.

New Entrant Broker of the Year ★ NEW

Open to brokerages operating for five years or less, this category celebrates strong early growth, innovation and ambition from the industry’s newest firms.

Entries are open now

All Community Awards are now open for entries. Each category includes a clear set of entry questions and judging criteria to help you present your achievements effectively.

If you are unsure which category best reflects your organisation’s activity, the Finance Connect team will be happy to assist. Simply email evalindsay@finance-connect.com for guidance.

Enter now: https://afcawardsuk.com/2026/en/page/categories