Bibby Financial Services (BFS) has appointed Melanie Ince as head of sales for Manchester.

Previously head of operations for BFS in Manchester, Ince has 25 years of experience working in the invoice financing industry to the role. Before joining BFS, she held the position of client manager at Lloyds TSB Commercial Finance for 18 years, where she managed a roster of 350 clients across the invoice financing industry.

She said: “Since joining Bibby Financial Services as head of operations in Manchester, I have gained a wide range of experience working with SMEs in a variety of industry sectors.

“In my new role as head of sales, I will be using this experience to help SMEs in the region, fostering their growth plans and positioning themselves for the future.

“For businesses in Manchester and across the North West, confidence is on the up and the region is well placed for future growth. Despite some uncertainty on the run-up to the EU referendum, businesses have continued to invest and are in a strong position to take advantage of regional opportunities.”

Stephen Johnson, northern regional sales director for Bibby Financial Services, said: “Melanie’s extensive experience is a huge asset to the business and she is very committed to our ethos and values.

“As part of the Northern Powerhouse, Manchester is a particularly important city for BFS. In our experience, start-ups, manufacturing and engineering businesses throughout the region are seeing strong growth. Investment desires are coupled with a growing awareness of alternative forms of finance and demand for our invoice finance facilities is increasing.”