Close Brothers Property Finance announces the appointment of Stuart Heslop as Consultant supporting its growing regional team in Edinburgh, led by Director, Gary Ferris. He will work closely with the Scotland and North of England teams.
With a 35 year career at the Royal Bank of Scotland and NatWest Group, where he served as Managing Director of Real Estate Finance for Scotland and North England, Stuart brings deep expertise in UK real estate finance, regional economic development, and strategic leadership.
Since leaving banking he has advised and supported growth across the UK property sector in a consulting capacity, while remaining a prominent advocate for Scotland’s SME developers and the wider housing market.
Stuart holds several senior non-executive and strategic positions, including at Scotsman Group, Knight Property Group, The Morris Leslie Group and Clyde Gateway. In 2023 he was awarded the Business Leadership Award at the Scottish Property Awards. He also sat on the board of the Scottish Property Federation between 2015 and 2022.
Stuart’s knowledge of the Scottish and wider UK markets, combined with his connections across the sector, will enhance Close Brothers’ commitment to supporting regional growth, expanding its lending footprint, and diversifying its product offering.
Stuart is widely recognised for his influence on Scotland’s property and regeneration landscape and remains an active voice in addressing the country’s housing challenges. He has emphasised the importance of supporting SME developers to unlock much-needed new homes across Scotland and continues to champion access to funding, sustainable development, and place-based regeneration.
Phil Hooper, CEO of Close Brothers Property Finance says:
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“At a time when we are broadening our regional lending hubs and diversifying our product offering, it feels the perfect moment to bring Stuart into Close Brothers. He will play a leading role in driving the business forward across Scotland and the North of England. He will also sit within the leadership team making a wider contribution to our growth strategy. I have known Stuart for 20 years and look forward to working alongside him once again.”
Stuart Heslop added:
“Over the last few years I have worked with a number of clients who speak very highly of the solutions that Close Brothers bring to the development funding market. I am looking forward to working with Phil and the team to help support a wide range of deals, as we look to grow our regional presence and cement our reputation as the go-to development lender in the market.”
