The outlook for the UK construction industry over the next few years will be driven by both negative and positive after-effects of the pandemic. Finance from Portman can help you protect your business from the worst of them and capitalise on the opportunities that arise.

Target new areas of work
The types of work that will be most in-demand following the pandemic will differ from those before. For instance, warehousing and logistics, and the repurposing of redundant commercial premises are all likely to see strong demand. Increased Government funding will drive growth in health, civil engineering and community works. Successful construction businesses will be those that can respond to varied opportunities with ready-to-go capability. Get your business ready for anything, with construction equipment finance from Portman.
Increase buying power
Construction materials have increased in price and are taking longer to arrive. Successful construction businesses will be those that can guarantee their supply lines, both when bidding for work and in their ability to finish the job on schedule. Portman finance can give you the buying power to purchase in larger quantities to reduce unit costs and command priority status on back orders.
- Commercial vehicles
- Excavators
- Dumpers, & loaders
- New tools and equipmen
- Scaffolding kit

Safeguard cashflow
Supply issues are disrupting project schedules, meaning knock-on effects to cashflow and workload. Successful construction businesses will be those that have the cash available to sustain them between peaks of demand, while deploying their teams effectively across multiple projects.
Invest in profitability
Successful construction businesses will be those with a diverse client base, to create a more even work pipeline and reduce the risk of a client folding. Finance from Portman could be used to grow your marketing capability reducing the cost of winning work. And you could invest in digital tools such as CRM and project planning apps that can help improve project efficiency and enhance profitability.
Invest in efficiency
The pandemic forced the construction industry to use labour more sparingly. With Brexit causing reductions in available skilled labour from Europe, efficient use of labour will remain an ongoing priority. Successful construction businesses will be those that invest in efficiency, are sophisticated enough to collaborate with other contractors, and are able to use technology to cut waste and speed up construction processes.
How can we support your Construction business
Successful construction businesses protect, invest and evolve. Unlock your potential with Portman Asset Finance.
Hire purchase usually involves paying the VAT and a deposit up-front. Fixed monthly repayments are then made, affected by whether you pay off the entire loan over the term or chose a final balloon payment. The final option to purchase is guaranteed for a nominal fee, transferring ownership of the asset to the customer.
Hire purchase is well-suited for situations where a company definitely wants to own the item at the end of the term, often where the asset has a significant usable lifespan, a high residual value and will not need to be upgraded.
Explore Hire PurchaseEquipment leasing allows a business to acquire hard or soft assets without the upfront costs associated with large purchases. A lender purchases the item, the business then leases it through fixed monthly payments over an agreed term.
Typically, asset finance is provided for high value ‘hard’ assets such as machinery, equipment or vehicles, but Portman also arranges asset finance for ‘soft’ assets such as IT, fitness, catering or vending equipment, as well as premises fit-outs, furniture or even air-conditioning.
Explore Lease FinanceBusiness loans are a way of borrowing money, which is repaid in monthly instalments, including interest, over an agreed term. Business loans are a common way to help smooth out cashflow fluctuations and take opportunities where otherwise they could be missed due to a lack of working capital.
Business loans can be secured or unsecured. Portman typically provides unsecured loans which can be more flexible and do not require collateral but are likely to require a personal guarantee. Secured loans are tied to an asset which the lender can claim ownership of if repayments are not made, these may be used in equipment refinance deals.
Explore Business LoansNew businesses often need an injection of finance to get them off the ground. Asset finance for new businesses allows you to focus on running your company and bringing in customers, confident that you have the equipment, vehicle or stock you need without the large initial outlay.
Using finance for your equipment means that you preserve the credit card or overdraft for contingency and operating expenses when the unexpected happens.
Explore Start Up LoansIf you recently bought a high-value item outright but would now prefer to have financed it, we can help with a sale-and-lease-back agreement. If the item is less than 3m old, give us a copy of the invoice and we will calculate the current value. After a few checks and acceptance of the term and monthly repayments, we can give you the cash equivalent of the invoice to put back into the business. You’ll then make fixed monthly payments including interest, whilst your asset earns you money.
If your business owns high value assets that are not currently on finance, subject to a valuation, it is also possible to use them as security for a loan, with lenders offering a cash loan up to a % of the asset’s value.
Explore RefinanceWith no personal guarantee up to £250k, Recovery Loans offer an excellent way of making sure your business gets back on its feet after the effects of the pandemic. Many businesses affected by the Covid-19 pandemic and its restrictions can access the UK government’s Recovery Loan Scheme (RLS), providing UK SMEs with better access to finance.
Recovery Loans can be used for any legitimate business or simply provide cashflow. Up to £350k can be borrowed on terms from 2 to 6 years and with no personal guarantee up to £250k, your personal wealth is not at risk.
Explore Recovery LoansWe make things easy
We know that finance can sometimes be confusing and stressful, but what we do is simple.