Debt advisory service for business expands with senior Scottish hire

Debt advisory director unveiled for Scotland; Azets’ UK team grows from seven to ten

A debt advisory specialist which supports businesses in the UK has made two senior appointments for its growing service line.

Azets welcomes directors Matt Garside (pictured) and Lyle Ammon for Scotland and the South of England respectively.

Both are new-role posts at Azets, the UK top 10 accountancy and business advisory firm.

The signings were confirmed by Mark Barrie, London-based National Head of Debt Advisory at Azets.

Matt will work out of the Edinburgh office to cover Scotland and joins from Skipton Business Finance.

His financial services career includes Virgin Money (Clydesdale Bank), Barclays Bank, Royal Bank of Scotland and NatWest.

Mark said: “The appointments reflect debt-market demand we are seeing across the UK from businesses of all sizes.

“Matt and Lyle are highly experienced professionals who provide clients with commercial, strategic finance packages, from invoice financing and asset-based lending to raising new and additional finance.

“With the arrivals of Matt and Lyle, we now have a growing team of ten to cover clients and referrers across England, Scotland and Wales – we work tirelessly to provide clients with the right solutions.

“Earlier this year we appointed Vicky Fisher as assistant manager, working out of Cardiff and covering the western and central regions – she supports Martyn Freeman, a director based in Gloucester. Last summer, as part of our growth strategy, we appointed Stockport-based Michael Davies as assistant manager, helping businesses in the North West.”

Industry figures show that SME borrowing in the UK is circa £62 billion, with around two in five SMEs requiring external finance, whether that is to service growth, asset finance, cashflow issues, restructuring or to switch to cheaper debt.

According to a government report, non-traditional lenders, also known as challenger banks and including fintechs, now provide the majority of SME lending – in 2024 challenger and specialist banks accounted for 60% of annual gross bank lending to SMEs.

Mark said: “With many companies struggling with profit margins due to cost pressures, we review existing finance facilities for businesses to ensure they are getting value for money and the right structure from funding providers.

“We have access to high street banks, the secondary lending market and alternative funders such as peer-to-peer and fintech.”

Greig McKnight, regional managing director for Azets in Scotland, who specialises in audit and assurance, said: “The appointment of Matt as a debt advisory director here in Scotland reflects the increased demand from businesses for structured finance packages that can lessen cost pressures and unlock new opportunities.”

Lyle comes from Birthstone Markets, part of the Marex Group, and will be based out of Azets’ London and Maidstone offices.

He previously worked at Investec and ABN Amro, as well as setting up and selling his own invoice finance advisory business.

Azets is a UK top 10 accountancy and business advisory firm, with its Scottish offices in Aberdeen, Ayr, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Inverness and Perth.