What Arkle Finance does

Arkle Finance Limited is a UK-based asset finance lender founded in 1997 and headquartered in Wellingborough, Northamptonshire, operating as a wholly-owned subsidiary of Weatherbys Bank Ltd (a family-owned private bank established in 1770). The company provides hire-purchase, finance lease, marine mortgage, aviation mortgage and business asset finance products to both consumers and businesses, with a vertically-specialised focus on five sectors: Marine, Aviation, Leisure (caravans, motorhomes, glamping), Business Asset Finance (including UK schools), and Prestige Cars. Contract ticket sizes range from approximately £15,000 to £500,000 for business lending and up to £1 million for marine and aviation assets, with typical terms of 1-7 years and optional balloon payments.

The business runs a sales-led, channel-driven go-to-market model: origination flows through a network of over 150 UK introducers (brokers, consultants, manufacturers, vendors and professionals) and is supplemented by direct customer enquiries via the company website, phone, and email, plus active participation in sector-specific trade shows across the UK and continental Europe. Underlying technology consists of a digital finance agreement signing platform and online enquiry/application forms — there is no indication of advanced automation or AI-driven underwriting. Revenue is generated on a subscription/recurring basis through interest and rental income on multi-year financed assets, with participation in the British Business Bank Growth Guarantee Scheme (launched July 2024) providing 70% government-backed guarantee capacity for SME lending up to £2 million per business group.

The company is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (Firm Reference Number 630582), ICO-registered (Z7416833), and serves more than 10,000 customers cumulatively since founding. It has been recognised as Highly Commended in the NACFB Asset Finance Lender of the Year 2025 awards and is described in company materials as one of the UK's fastest-growing asset finance providers, with management commentary anchored on domain specialism rather than scale or technology differentiation.

Name

Arkle Finance

Legal name

Arkle Finance Limited

Website

https://arklefinance.co.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

1997

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Arkle Finance is a UK specialist asset-finance lender (founded 1997, subsidiary of Weatherbys Bank Ltd) offering hire-purchase, finance lease, and mortgage products to individuals and SMBs across marine, aviation, leisure, prestige cars, and business asset sectors, distributed via 150+ introducers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Asset Finance / Asset-Based Lending

NAICS

Sales Financing (52222)

SIC

Finance Lessors (6172)

akta.pro primary industry

Equipment & Asset Finance (SME) (FSAKAGAF)

akta.pro secondary industries

Marine & Boat Finance (FSAKADAH), Recreational Vehicle (RV) Finance (FSAKADAF), SME Equipment & Asset Finance (Leasing, Fleet, Capex) (FSABABAH)

Keywords

• Asset finance
• Marine finance
• Aviation finance
• Leisure vehicle finance
• Business equipment leasing

Headquarters

HQ city

Wellingborough

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Finance Lease: Medium and long-term finance leases allowing businesses to hire equipment and vehicles for agreed periods. At term end, equipment is sold and businesses receive a rebate of up to 95% of net sales proceeds. Typical rental periods of 2-5 years.
2. Hire Purchase: Traditional asset finance providing immediate use of equipment or vehicles with option to purchase at end of period for a pre-agreed sum. Benefits and risks of economic ownership rest with the client.
3. Marine Mortgage: Secured loan where boat serves as security. Terms range from 1-7 years with option for balloon payment. Spreads upfront cost of purchasing boats priced typically £40,000-£1 million.
4. Aviation Mortgage: Mortgage secured against aircraft for purchasing light airplanes and helicopters. Terms up to 7 years with possibility of balloon payment. Typically finances 2-6 seater aircraft.
5. Growth Guarantee Scheme (GGS): Asset finance transactions through British Business Bank Growth Guarantee Scheme, providing government-backed financing for UK small businesses to invest and grow.
6. Business Asset Finance: Finance for business assets including fit-out finance, green energy systems, and equipment purchases. Minimum advances of £15,000 up to £500,000 with terms to suit business needs.
7. Commercial Hire Fleet Finance: Commercial finance facilities for leisure operators acquiring glamping pods, caravans, and other accommodation units for business use such as hire fleets.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Arkle Finance is a UK direct lender providing asset-based finance including finance leases, hire purchase, marine mortgages, aviation mortgages, and the British Business Bank Growth Guarantee Scheme, targeted at consumers, SMEs, and larger businesses across marine, aviation, leisure, prestige car, and general business equipment sectors. Distribution is primarily through a UK network of 150+ introducers (brokers, consultants, manufacturers, vendors) plus direct customer enquiries and sector specialist teams, with funds drawn down at point of contract.

Product overview

Arkle Finance is an asset finance and leasing company offering a diverse portfolio of specialized financing products. The core offerings include Aviation Mortgage, Finance Lease, Hire Purchase, Marine Mortgage, Growth Guarantee Scheme (GGS), and Business Asset Finance. These are complemented by sector-specific sub-products across Marine (Motor Yacht, Sports Boat, Sailing Yacht, Commercial Vessel), Aviation (Light Aircraft, Helicopter, Aircraft Simulator, Commercial Drone, Avionics Upgrades), Leisure (Motorhome/Campervan, Static Caravan/Lodge, Touring Caravan, Glamping Pods/Shepherd's Huts), and Prestige Cars (High-End, Classic, Collectable, Rare/Vintage). The company operates as a direct lender within the Weatherbys Group, providing flexible financing solutions for both consumers and businesses.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Finance Lease Medium and long-term finance lease allowing businesses to hire equipment and vehicles for an agreed period (typically 2–5 years), with Arkle holding title during the lease while the lessee retains benefits and risks of economic ownership. At end of term, equipment is sold and the business can receive a rebate of up to 95% of net sales proceeds.
• Hire Purchase Traditional Hire Purchase providing immediate use of equipment or vehicles with the option to purchase at the end of the period for a pre-agreed sum. Benefits and risks of economic ownership rest with the client throughout the agreement, with repayments that can vary with seasonal income.
• Marine Mortgage Secured loan where the boat serves as security, available for new or used power boats and sailing yachts for business or pleasure use. Terms range from 1–7 years with an optional balloon payment, typically financing boats priced £40,000 to £1 million.
• Aviation Mortgage Mortgage secured against aircraft, used for purchasing light airplanes and helicopters typically 2–6 seaters based and registered in the UK. Terms of up to 7 years are available with the possibility of a balloon payment.
• Business Asset Finance Comprehensive asset finance for UK businesses, covering fit-out finance, green energy systems, new purchase/refinance, and education equipment. Minimum advances of £15,000 up to £500,000 with terms to suit business needs.
• Growth Guarantee Scheme (GGS) Asset finance transactions offered through the British Business Bank Growth Guarantee Scheme (the successor to the Recovery Loan Scheme), providing government-backed financing to support UK small businesses to invest and grow. Up to £2 million per business group, term loans and asset finance from 3 months to 6 years, with a 70% government-backed guarantee against outstanding balances.
• Commercial Hire Fleet Finance (Glamping Pods & Shepherd's Huts) Commercial hire fleet financing for leisure operators acquiring glamping pods, caravans, lodges, safari tents, yurts, and shepherd's huts for use as accommodation hire fleets. Typical asset values range between £25,000 and £75,000.

Quantifiable outcome

• Supporting over 10,000 customers across the UK since 1997
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles6 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Anglo ScottishminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 27 March 2025Arkle Finance attended Connect 2025 hosted by Anglo Scottish at St. James' Park, Newcastle, to strengthen relationships, share insights, and explore the evolving landscape of their partnership. Over 200 attendees expected.
• Charles & Dean FinanceminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 18 March 2025Arkle Finance participated in Charles & Dean's inaugural Lender Day in Stamford. Charles & Dean is a specialist credit broker. A portion of event fees were donated to MND Association.
• National Association of Commercial Finance Brokers (NACFB)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorArkle Finance is a longstanding Patron of the NACFB, attending and supporting events including Business Finance Week. The NACFB is the UK's largest independent trade group for commercial finance brokers.
• British Holiday & Home Parks Association (BH&HPA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerArkle is a proud associate member of the BH&HPA, which represents and serves those who own or manage holiday, residential, tenting, touring and glamping parks. The Association has a network of park people and is committed to lobbying for members' interests.
• National Caravan Council (NCC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerArkle became a full member of the NCC, established in 1939 as the UK trade body representing touring caravans, motorhomes, caravan holiday homes, and residential park homes. The NCC promotes best practice and formulates effective public policy.
• Holiday and Residentials Parks Association (HARPA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerArkle Finance is a proud associate member of HARPA, representing the holiday and residential parks industry.
• British MarinecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerArkle Finance is a member of British Marine, the trade body for the UK marine industry representing boaters, marinas, brokers, and marine businesses.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Funding Circle: Listed UK fintech lender providing business loans to SMEs via an online platform. Comparable in serving UK SMB finance needs, though operates a marketplace lending model rather than direct asset-secured lending.

Emerging players

• Capify: UK-based alternative finance provider offering business loans and merchant cash advance to SMEs. Comparable in serving UK SMBs through broker channels, though focused on unsecured working capital rather than asset-secured finance.

Direct peers

• Close Brothers Asset Finance: UK asset finance division of Close Brothers Group providing hire purchase, leasing, and refinancing across multiple sectors including agriculture, healthcare, and leisure. Closest comparable in scale and product breadth to Arkle.
• Bibby Financial Services: UK-based invoice finance and asset-based lending provider serving SMEs. Comparable SME-focused, broker-distributed alternative finance model serving UK small and mid-market businesses.
• Propel Finance: UK asset finance lender focused on SMEs with hire purchase and leasing solutions across business equipment, vehicles, and specialist assets. Comparable SME-led, broker-distributed asset finance model.
• White Oak UK: UK asset finance provider offering business loans, hire purchase, and leasing to SMEs. Direct comparable in SME asset finance products and broker-led origination.
• Simply Asset Finance: UK asset finance broker and funder specialising in asset finance for SMEs across multiple verticals. Direct comparable in introducer-driven distribution and multi-sector SME focus.
• Octopus Capital: UK asset finance provider (formerly Hitachi Capital) offering business and consumer asset finance including vehicle, marine, and equipment finance. Comparable specialist multi-vertical model serving UK SMBs and consumers.
• Lombard: One of the UK's largest asset finance providers, part of NatWest Group. Offers marine, aviation, leisure, and business equipment finance with comparable products (hire purchase, finance lease) and a multi-sector specialist model directly mirroring Arkle's approach.

Others

• Charles & Dean: UK specialist credit broker with whom Arkle actively partners (Lender Day events). Comparable as a UK broker channel that distributes asset finance from multiple funders including Arkle to end customers.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/arkle-finance-ltd/?originalSubdomain=uk

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Arkle Finance