DSL Business Finance (DSL) has appointed two more Loan Officers, with a combined total of 29 years of financial services experience, to support small and medium sized business growth and development in Scotland.
DSL is an alternative finance provider supporting enterprise across the country by providing loans of up to £50,000 to SMEs and social enterprises. More than £3.4 million of DSL loans has been disbursed to 165 businesses in the last year – 70 percent of which was to start-ups, helping to create or maintain 765 jobs.
Mark Lagan joins DSL with 12 years’ banking experience gained from roles including Business Development Manager at Clydesdale Bank, and Local Business Manager and Credit Manager with Lloyds Banking Group.
In his role as loan officer at DSL, Lagan will be responsible for supporting entrepreneurs across a variety of sectors with a core focus on delivering digital development loans to those seeking to digitise their businesses. DSL is Fund Manager appointed by Lanarkshire Enterprise Services Ltd on behalf of the Scottish Government to provide loans to support this key aspect of business transformation.
Paul Toner brings 17 years’ experience from Clydesdale Bank, Lloyds Banking Group and Bank of Scotland having previously worked in relationship management and customer support roles. He will build on this previous experience at DSL as a Loan Officer, providing support for entrepreneurs based in the Central Belt.
Toner will ensure both start-up and established businesses across the Central Belt receive the best possible support with their applications. All applicants receive face-to-face pre-loan and aftercare support from Loan Officers who are based throughout Scotland, including Edinburgh, Glasgow, Dundee, Aberdeen and Inverness. DSL now has a total of six Loan Officers delivering much needed funding to businesses in Scotland.
Notably, in the run-up to Scottish Food and Drink Fortnight 2019 starting on 31 August, DSL has supported a variety of businesses in those sectors over the last 25 years. One example is Davide Angeletti, founder and owner of Moody Stag Brewery and Ovenbird Coffee Roasters in Govan in Glasgow.
Angeletti has received four separate loans across his two ventures totalling more than £50,000 of funding from DSL which assisted with such things as investing in brewing equipment and a coffee roaster to enhance his business and diversify his coffee range which is sold in both retail and wholesale markets. Angeletti is Italian and has worked in the coffee industry for many years. His Ovenbird operation roasts and sells coffee, while his Moody Stag brand is a coffee flavoured beer.
Commenting on the assistance he has received from DSL, Angeletti said: “The finance and support I’ve received from DSL has been invaluable in helping me grow my Ovenbird and Moody Stag businesses in Glasgow. Their knowledge of the needs of small and growing food and drink companies has really helped with my expansion and diversification.”
DSL Executive Director Stuart Yuill said: “Both Mark and Paul’s appointments recognise the continued growth and expansion of DSL in supporting more entrepreneurs across the country.
“SMEs are prospering in the economy despite the uncertain political and economic landscape, which is testament to the commitment, determination and entrepreneurial spirit of business owners across Scotland. Mark and Paul’s 29 years of banking experience adds to that of the already very experienced team at DSL and I am confident they will enable us to assist even more Scottish businesses to start-up, grow and flourish.
