MEET IAN ► I started Funding Solutions in 2006 with a desire to provide expert, independent and impartial advice to business owners about finance. The business has grown into one of the most respected business finance advisors in the UK. Clients are referred to us from top accountancy firms, banks and existing clients. 

EXPERTISE ► We specialise in cash flow solutions including invoice discounting, invoice factoring, trade finance, ABL, stock finance, business loans, asset finance and asset refinance.

WHAT WE DO ► we help businesses borrow more money and cheaper money. Our expertise in the world of business finance helps businesses with cash flow pressures. No matter what challenge a business is facing or what your objective is for funding there is a strong chance we have a solution. 

CLIENTS ► we work with a range of businesses both in terms of size and geography. From small owner managed businesses through to large well known brands. In terms of turnover we have worked with new start businesses through to £100m turnover businesses. We mostly provide funding to UK businesses but have provided solutions to businesses across the globe.

WHY US ► Funding Solutions have an excellent reputation for providing expert advice. We have a straight forward approach and there is no 'hard sell'. We will explain your options so that you can make an informed decision. Only you can decide what is best for your business. We structure bespoke finance packages to meet your needs with a view to helping you to achieve your business goals.

READY TO TALK ►Mobile - 07789 638 178 Office - 0845 251 4040 E-mail - ian@fundingsolutions.co.uk

I am always happy to talk through any requirement or concern you may have.

Happy New Year. I stayed at home last night and judging by the amount of people in M&S yesterday, so did many others.

I did wonder if this is a sign of the times. People seem to go out less. Perhaps it is the the demographic I am in. Aging, boring and not a fan of forced fun. 

The photo is from Tuesday. I popped out for lunch with the family. Carol Vorderman was on the next table. Fair play, she looked fabulous. She didn’t have peas with lunch so I was denied the opportunity to impress her with my quick witted, spontaneous sense of humour.

That isn’t Carol in the background of my picture. 

Did anyone do anything fabulous? I watched the third Knives Out film, made some dinner and struggled to stay awake. 

So, to the LinkedIn community, I’d like to wish you all a happy and healthy 2026.

Ian Hepworth

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52 not out. It is my birthday today. A time for celebration? In a fairly understated way it will be. It will also be a time for reflection. I am content with my life and what I have achieved so far. That doesn't always mean I am always happy.

I think happiness and contentment are a bit like loving and liking someone. You may always love them but you don't always necessarily like them in a certain moment. I am now content pretty much all of the time. I am still a grumpy git at times.

I find great satisfaction and appreciation in my mundane routine activities. Walking my dog, taking my daughter to gymnastics, and dare I say talking to businesses about finance.

One thing I have learned is perspective. It came the hard way after a serious health issue. I wish I had learned it much earlier in life. 

Priorities are also important. Understanding your own is important but also understanding the priorities of others. That feeds into perspective.

It took me most of my 53 years to reach this point. It took a serious health issue and the journey of recovery from that to learn these lessons.

I was recently watching a TV show called 'Landman'. There was a quote, 

"You don't have to live it to learn it". 

That resonated with me. I wish I had applied that to my life earlier but I never found learning from the mistakes of others particularly easy.

What are your LinkedIn goals for 2026? Mine are about activities rather than metrics I can’t control.

So a loose strategy rather than goals.

I plan to:

- comment on posts more than I post. I think this is important. It demonstrates you are listening more than talking. I think this is good in networking.

- I will continue to write my own posts. Some good ones, some not so good. All my own work.

- I plan to proactively grow my network. I want to connect with business owners, FDs, MDs, bank managers and accountants. I welcome everyone but this is where my work comes from. 

- I might start reaching out more with messages where I think I might add value. I normally let my content do the talking but niche, informative posts seem to be lost on the platform these days. 

- I plan to use my own photos. The problem is, I don’t do a great deal that others would find interesting so it’s typically just mugshots of me, the dog or my daughter. I need to take advantage of more interesting photo opportunities.

Anyone else bored of AI-generated posts?

You know the ones.

Perfect rhythm.
Neat line breaks.
Predictable punchline.

They all look different…
but somehow sound exactly the same.

When every post follows the same formula, it stops being interesting — and starts being noise.

LinkedIn used to feel like people talking.
Now it sometimes feels like prompts talking to prompts.

The irony?
The more AI content we see, the more valuable actual human voice becomes.

Messy thoughts.
Personal stories.
Opinions that don’t land perfectly.

That’s the stuff that makes me stop scrolling.

Just me?
Or are you craving more human LinkedIn again?

👇

How has 2025 treated you? On a business level we have continued to support businesses with working capital and growth finance. It has been interesting to work with some great businesses. I have seen more acquisitions than I have in recent years.

I think the requirement for business finance remains relatively constant. As the wider business community struggles, businesses that are typically cash rich are dragged into the space of businesses that require funding. As growth kicks in, businesses require funding to finance that growth.

It is like a spectrum where different businesses are in the sweet-spot of those that need funding. It is also important to consider that not all businesses move in the same direction. While some struggle at certain times, others prosper.

The car leasing business saw a change during the cost of living crisis with a big shift towards business contract hire. This has evened out again with consumers returning looking for new cars. Reviews remain strong and it is fair to say customers like the human touch. It doesn't always go well but we do our best for people and answer the phone to get things sorted. Many people still like dealing with people and getting good advice.

On a personal level I am grateful for my health. A lot of us take it for granted and I certainly used to. I have learned to appreciate what I have and to enjoy the little things in day to day life. For that learning experience I am grateful.

In terms of personal finances, a bit of a humble brag, I have enough to live comfortably for the rest of the year.

So here comes 2026. I look forward to working with more businesses and helping people succeed.

Best wishes for the new year from me.

taplio

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