Q1 performance builds on a record 2025 and reinforces Ultimate Finance’s ambition to remain the funding partner of choice for introducers and their clients.
Ultimate Finance, one of the UK’s leading independent asset-based lenders, has released a Q1 2026 trading update, reporting a loan book of £413m and confirming planned organisational changes designed to strengthen product strategy and support growth across the group.
Following a strong 2025, Ultimate Finance has continued that momentum into the first quarter of 2026, with a record new business quarter and growth across Asset Finance, Bridging Finance and Working Capital.
Q1 2026 highlights:
- Loan book hits a record £413m, up 23% vs Q1 2025.
- A record £72m in new facilities, up 16% vs Q1 2025.
- Asset Finance delivers record new business of £27m in Q1.
- Working Capital and Bridging Finance post strong new business of £18m and £27m, respectively
Ultimate Finance continues to invest in proposition development and service enhancements. The business will shortly announce updates to both its Asset Finance and Bridging Finance propositions, aimed at increasing lending capability and supporting introducers as funding needs evolve.
The group is also continuing to build its Structured Finance presence following last year’s proposition expansion, which included increasing facility size to £10m and introducing a commercial property loan as part of an ABL funding package.
Leadership update
Ultimate Finance also confirms that Andrew Ribbins will retire at the end of April 2026, following 16 years with the business. Andrew established the group’s Asset Finance offering in 2010 and later became Group Sales Director, playing a key role in strengthening sales performance across the group.
Josh Levy, CEO at Ultimate Finance, said:
“I want to recognise Andrew’s immense contribution to Ultimate Finance. Over 16 years he established our Asset Finance business and helped shape it into the strong operation it is today. His impact has been significant, and his biggest legacy will be the people he’s supported along the way.”
Planned structural changes to strengthen product leadership
As part of its evolution, Ultimate Finance has implemented planned structural and leadership changes focused on fulfilling growth ambitions.
- Simon Gregory will become Head of Asset Finance, moving from his long-standing leadership of the Operations team. Working alongside Paul Hansen, appointed Sales Director last year, they will continue to develop the lender’s Asset Finance proposition.
- Liam Cavanagh continues as Head of Bridging Finance, leading the development of the product suite as the team expands in line with the growing loan book.
- In Working Capital, Lawrence Wood and John Lightfoot will see their roles evolve. Lawrence will lead Working Capital Origination, working with Sales Directors Michael Beer and Nick Haggitt, while John will lead Working Capital Portfolio Management, helping maintain Ultimate Finance’s relationship-led approach.
Josh Levy, CEO at Ultimate Finance, added:
“After a record 2025, we’ve started 2026 with strong momentum. Passing the £400m loan book milestone in Q1 is a powerful vote of confidence from the introducers who trust Ultimate Finance and a reflection of the consistent performance of our teams across Asset Finance, Bridging Finance and Working Capital.
“With clear product leadership in place, we’ll keep strengthening our propositions and delivery and continue backing UK businesses as they navigate a turbulent economic landscape “
