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Leonard Curtis Secures £15M Finance Deal For Charles Trent



Leonard Curtis has secured a £15 million refinancing and growth facility for Charles Trent Limited, providing increased working capital and long-term headroom to support continued expansion, investment in innovation and the scaling of its circular-economy operations.


Charles Trent has been at the forefront of automotive recycling for 100 years. It is the UK’s largest family-owned vehicle recycler and salvage business, with processing capability of up to 52,000 vehicles per annum and is a recognised leader in the automotive circular economy.


The business operates from two principal sites in Poole, Dorset, purpose-built to support high-volume, low-waste vehicle dismantling. ESG considerations are embedded throughout the operation, from building design to production processes and machinery.


Solar panels generate on-site renewable energy across its 100,000 sq ft facility, while its newest production building has been independently assessed as delivering materially improved carbon efficiency compared with standard industrial benchmarks, setting a new standard within the UK sector.


Charles Trent is also the first UK dismantler to provide verified CO₂ saving certificates across all sales channels, allowing customers to clearly quantify the environmental benefit of reused automotive components.


The business’ consistent focus on operational innovation has attracted strong interest from lenders and investors, particularly its lean, repeatable processing model, which is designed to be scalable across multiple locations. Investment in technology, sustainability and production capability remains central to the company’s long-term growth strategy.


Led by CEO Marc Trent, the business undertook a strategic review of its banking arrangements to ensure its funding structure aligned with its growth ambitions. While the previous lender had supported the business over many years, the priority was to secure a partner with the appetite and understanding to support the next phase of expansion.


The transaction completed a full refinance of the incumbent lender, with challenger business bank Allica Bank providing a three-year revolving credit facility of approximately £15 million. The deal was led by Dave Rushton, Regional Lead at Allica Growth Finance.


Marc Trent, CEO of Charles Trent Limited, commented:

“This funding marks an important moment for Charles Trent. As we move into our 100th year, we’re proving that a family-owned business can lead the way in scale, sustainability and innovation."

“The investment gives us the headroom to accelerate growth, back our people, and continue building world-class circular-economy infrastructure. What matters most to me is working with funding partners who understand not just where we’ve come from, but where we’re going. Allica and Leonard Curtis clearly get that, and this facility puts us in a strong position for the next phase of our journey.”


Dave Rushton, Regional Growth Finance Lead at Allica Bank, added:

“Charles Trent is a strong example of a long-established business that has successfully evolved through sustained investment, innovation and operational discipline. Marc and the management team have a clear strategy for growth, underpinned by scalable infrastructure and a credible ESG proposition."

"We’re pleased to support the business with flexible funding that enables continued investment, while maintaining the stability needed to deliver its long-term plans.”


Mike Dinnell of Leonard Curtis provided debt advisory support. Commenting on the transaction, he said:

“We’re pleased to have supported the refinancing and secured growth capital for the business. Significant investment has been made in production facilities, technology and innovation, delivering benefits not only to Charles Trent but across the wider automotive supply chain."

"The business has the capability to drive meaningful change in the UK and European automotive circular economy, and we look forward to working alongside Allica Bank as those plans are delivered.”


The management team comprises Marc Trent, Neil Trent, Alison Hopkins, Martin Scott and James Bawa, who will lead the business through its next phase of growth.


Tim Stone, Craig Hardman and Martin Logan of Steele Raymond advised Charles Trent Limited, while Edward Sundeland, Partner at Pinsent Masons, advised Allica Bank.

 



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  • Writer: Paul Andrews
    Paul Andrews
  • Dec 27, 2023
  • 3 min read

The biggest UK tech trends for businesses in 2024 have been revealed, including VoIP telephone systems, artificial intelligence and cybersecurity solutions.

Technology experts at TelephoneSystems.Cloud are urging businesses to get tech ready over the New Year else risk falling behind from their competitors.

One of the biggest trends for next year is the introduction of internet based VoIP telephone systems - before the deadline for change hits in 2025.

The use of sustainable technologies are also expected to increase, as businesses further recognise the issues and environmental responsibilities they have.

Artificial intelligence and VR technology will be used more in businesses to improve efficiencies and implement virtual collaborations.

Juliet Moran, founder of TelephoneSystems.Cloud said: “It’s important for businesses up and down the country to get on board as soon as they can with some of the biggest technology changes 2024 is expected to bring."

“This way they can learn and adapt the new tech in a way that suits their business needs, as well as those of clients and employees, without falling behind from competitors."

“VoIP is expected to be one of the biggest changes in 2024 - before the deadline of installing internet based telephone systems hits the UK the year after."

“Whilst some businesses may be scared of using AI in their practices, the new year should be about learning how artificial intelligence can be a great benefit by boosting productivity and helping to grow your business by making data-lead predictions."

“Another tech change 2024 will bring is the advancements of cybersecurity solutions, particularly with a focus on helping those employees who work remotely.”

Here are some of the biggest tech changes expected for 2024:

VoIP

One of the biggest changes expected in 2024 is the introduction of VoIP to businesses and homes across the UK. The government says by 2025, all traditional landlines that rely on a copper line will be replaced by VoIP - which allows calls to be made via an internet connection. For businesses, this means cost and time savings, smooth communication between remote teams and more mobility with calls between different devices. Huge backlogs for porting (moving your telephone number) are expected in 2025, so migrating in 2024 should be top of every businesses priority list.

AI

Artificial Intelligence is quickly becoming a tool used by many businesses to improve efficiencies between teams, boost productivity by creating ideas and saving on time. By proactively measuring outputs with specific metrics, and making suggested changes based on data lead predictions, AI technology can help grow your business throughout the new year.

Cybersecurity Innovations

The coming year is expected to bring advancements in cybersecurity solutions for clients and employees. By incorporating AI, technology will be able to detect new threats to systems and suggest better data privacy solutions. This will likely be adopted for remote employees too who are using their own internet connection on company devices.

VR/AR

Augmented Reality and Virtual Reality are expected to be used more in businesses to build immersive experiences and streamline workflows.


AR and VR can be used for tasks such as enhancing employee training and visualising products as well as improving virtual collaborations between teams and clients.

Sustainable Technologies

In 2024, we’ll likely see an increased focus on sustainable technologies due to a wider awareness about environmental issues from the business world and the responsibility corporations have. For businesses, this could include complete digitalisation, cloud computing, and setting carbon neutrality targets.


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