39% of intermediaries operating in the asset finance sector believe demand for asset finance funding will continue to increase during 2018.

The same survey also revealed which sectors brokers feel will drive the most demand this year.

The recent ‘broker sentiment’ poll, carried out by United Trust Bank, found that in addition to the 39% who expect demand to increase, 25% of brokers expect demand from SMEs for asset finance to stabilise and 8% feel activity will decline. However, 28% of brokers were unsure of what 2018 had in store and took the ‘don’t know’ option.

Brokers were also asked to indicate which sectors of industry were likely to drive the most demand for asset finance and ‘Construction’, ‘Transport’ and ‘Waste Management’ came out as the top three.

Martin Nixon, head of asset finance at United Trust Bank, said: “There’s no doubt that awareness of asset finance is growing amongst UK SMEs. Lenders, brokers and industry bodies, such as the FLA and the NACFB are working hard to spread the word about the versatility and flexibility of asset finance and how quickly and easily transactions can be completed. Dealing with a professional asset finance specialist is a far cry from what’s involved in trying to raise a business loan from a high street bank or applying to increase your company overdraft. Brokers have known this for years, but the message is now getting through to business owners across the country, and this is good news for everyone.

“The government’s push to tackle the housing shortage should mean that construction and housebuilding companies are kept busy for the foreseeable future. As a result, we also expect significant activity in the funding and refinancing of new and used construction plant and machinery. UTB has gained considerable experience of the vehicles and machinery employed in the waste management industry and it’s very much a growth sector. The old saying of ‘where there’s muck there’s brass’ is as true now as it ever was and waste management is a multi-billion [pound] industry with an ever increasing range of specialist plant and machinery for recycling and disposal is being bought and refinanced.

“UTB is keen to help brokers make the most of the increasing interest in asset finance, and although we lend in all of the sectors highlighted above, we continuously review and develop the range of assets we’ll consider funding. Our aim for 2018 is to help even more brokers provide the financial solutions their customers require to take advantage of growth and investment opportunities.”