Ashley dishes out the recipe for success
Small business invoice finance specialists, Ashley Commercial Finance has got behind England’s World Cup bid by providing themed lunches for staff ahead of the big games.
Ashley prepared five traditional Portuguese dishes including grilled sardines followed by almond and fig sweets ahead of the Quarter-Final clash on Saturday and staff entered into the spirit of the World Cup by dressing in Portuguese costume. There were also six traditional English meals such as fish and chips so that Ashley made sure the English won this time, six five on penalties. Ashley will continue to have themed lunches although England are now out of the World Cup, with French cuisine such as Boeuf Bourguignon being prepared for France’s Semi-Final match this week. The staff at Ashley choose the food, which is representative of a multi-ethnic society. There is also a rumour that Ashley-Man, whose outline has been made famous by Ashley’s re-branded logo, could be spotted in the crowd of the World Cup Final played in Berlin on Sunday (July 9).
Cheadle-based Ashley, which last year celebrated 10 years in business, has installed digital televisions in their offices and are expecting most of their workforce to come to the lunches, which are cooked depending on who is playing on the day. When England played Sweden, there was a smorgasbord of food that included herring on offer ahead of the big game. There was also the staple Ecuadorian diet of rice and spicy chicken for lunch before England’s victory in the second phase of the competition. At the previous World Cup Ashley had themed breakfasts, but the later kick-off times in Germany has made the lunch time option possible.
Jonathan Cranston, Managing Director of Ashley Commercial Finance, said:
“We are of course disappointed that England are out of the World Cup and that Wayne Rooney was red-carded. Running a business without invoice finance is like running a team without Rooney; it weakens the business because that option is not available. There are so many similarities between the World Cup and our business. We have strong competition and require a team effort. Ashley works with companies to improve cash flow and ultimately aims to make their order books healthier.”
Ashley re-branded recently to emphasize the strength of their relationship with smaller businesses. Ashley can shape their services specifically for the smaller business and define their market as businesses with a turnover of less than £1.5 million.
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Ashley Commercial Finance is a truly independent invoice finance company, with no ties to banks or other financial institutions. Ashley provides invoice finance for the smaller business (including start ups and turnarounds) across England and Wales. Ashley has offices in Manchester, London, Leeds and Bristol. The company has almost 200 clients with turnovers between £50,000 and £1.5 million. They range from printers to road haulage companies, recruitment agencies to taxi firms, recycling companies to IT organisations.
Ashley provides ongoing finance for a business at up to 90% of the value of a client’s sales ledger, which, coupled with professional credit control makes invoice finance an attractive option for a growing business and a smarter alternative to an overdraft. As the facility is based on a percentage of turnover, the funding available grows with the business. Ashley’s independence and lack of bureaucracy means that funding can be in place for new clients to draw down within 24 hours of receiving sales invoices and at the lowest minimum fee. Full Online Account Access enables clients to obtain account information 24 hours a day.
Unlike many other invoice finance companies, Ashley allows clients to choose which accounts they factor, thus avoiding paying unnecessary fees.
In response to client demand, Ashley launched an asset finance facility in June 2005. This is available for anything from computers, telephone systems and office equipment, through to company vehicles, yellow plant and machinery.
There is a great step by step ‘Guide to Invoice Finance’, a guide to ‘Being Paid on Time’ and more information about the company at www.ashleyfinance.co.uk
Ashley Commercial Finance is a patron of the National Association of Commercial Finance Brokers (NACFB).
Editors notes:
Photos (300dpi plus) and further press information available (including press packs) at Marketing Projects’ web site in the press office for Ashley Commercial Finance at http://www.marketingprojects.co.uk/clientpo/news.asp?id=21
CAPTION: Ashley staff (left to right) Susan Gaskill, Katie Robbins and Brenda Manning get into the World Cup spirit dressed in traditional Portuguese outfits.
Press Contact: Jane Harrad-Roberts Consultant Director, Marketing Projects Email: jane@marketingprojects.co.uk Mobile: +44 7785 395705 Tel: +44 1244 330000 Press hotline: +44 1244 330101
Company Contact: Jane Merriman Marketing Manager, Ashley Commercial Finance Email: jayne.merriman@ashleyfinance.co.uk Tel: 0161 741 7400 Direct.
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