GC Business Finance appoints Aaron Malins as new head

GC Business Finance (GCBF), a responsible lender supporting SMEs across the UK, has appointed Aaron Malins as Director of Business Finance, supporting the continued evolution of its offering and future growth plans.

Aaron brings over two decades of experience across finance, lending and advisory. He previously served as CFO of a Manchester-based regulated consumer finance firm, as well as Managing Director of its lending division. In these roles Aaron worked closely with the CEO, private equity and hedge fund investors and was instrumental scaling and shaping the business into an industry leading technology-enabled financial services platform.

He has supported a wide range of businesses in raising debt, seed and growth equity funding and brings a strong focus on ethical lending and improving access to finance for founders from diverse backgrounds, an approach that aligns closely with GCBF’s mission.

In his new role, Aaron will support the strategic direction of GCBF, drawing on his experience in structured finance and operations to enhance its offering and support more businesses across the UK. He will also play a key role in exploring how technology and data can further strengthen the organisation’s impact and customer experience.

Established in 2002 as part of The Growth Company, GCBF has a strong track record of supporting SMEs that struggle to access funding from mainstream lenders. It currently manages a number of leading SME-focused funds, including as national Business Support Partner for the British Business Bank’s Start Up Loans programme, along with smaller loans for the Bank’s Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund II. Across early-stage investment, GC Angels provides venture capital to some of the North’s most ambitious businesses, along with running the Venture Forward programme, backed by Innovate UK.

Aaron Malins, Director of Business Finance at GC Business Finance, said: “GCBF has a strong reputation in the market as a purpose-led lender, supporting businesses that might otherwise struggle to access funding. This ethos has always been very important to me as I’ve grown in my career, so I quickly jumped at the opportunity to lead an organisation that is committed to making a real difference and supporting underrepresented founders.

“At a time when many SMEs continue to face barriers to funding, I’ll be focused on driving the next stage of growth for GCBF, ensuring we’re continuing to evolve our offering to meet the changing needs of entrepreneurs. It’s an opportunity to build deeper relationships with our key stakeholders to widen access to finance and make the funding journey for founders as simple as possible.”

Donna Edwards, Managing Director of Business Support & Business Finance at The Growth Company, said: “Aaron’s appointment comes at an important time for GC Business Finance as we continue to evolve our offering and expand our reach. His background across lending, business growth and technology adoption will help us reach even more businesses that need flexible, accessible finance.

“With a strong commitment to ethical lending, his approach aligns perfectly with our own and he will play an important role in broadening our reach, strengthening relationships with key stakeholders and enhancing the customer experience over the next few years.”