SimplyBiz Group has become the latest addition to join the Association of Short Term Lenders (ASTL).

It offers compliance services, training and support, encouraging best practice across a broad range of businesses regulated by the FCA.

This takes the number of full and associate members to 55.

David Golder, managing director of The Consumer Credit Centre, part of the SimplyBiz Group, said: “Since our inception in 2002, we have continued to grow exponentially year on year and we now support more than 30% of the directly authorised marketplace and over 5,000 financial advisers across some 2,500 firms. In addition we also support over 850 firms new to regulation under both Consumer Credit and the Mortgage Credit Directive.

“The Group’s ethos of always putting the customers’ needs at the heart of all that we do and increasing the diversity of knowledge of our members and supporting them, mirrors the ASTL’s philosophy of honesty and integrity. Therefore, becoming an associate member was the next natural step and we look forward to exchanging knowledge and sharing ideas and best practice in order to continue influencing the short term lending market for the benefit of our growing membership.”

Benson Hersch (pictured), chief executive of the ASTL, added: “Growing the reputation of the bridging market is of paramount importance and this latest addition not only contributes to the association’s diversity and knowledge but allows us to take yet another step forward to providing a truly balanced voice of the short term lending market.”