by Chris Holland Business Reporter A pioneering new business support partnership, which aims to fill the gap left by the demise of traditional bank managers, signed up 15 clients in its first month of operation.

Cleckheaton-based ABL Business Ltd has been launched by marketing expert Alex Beardsley and finance specialist Andy Redman to offer smaller businesses a one-stop-shop for growth support services.

ABL, based in Moorland Mills, aims to offer financial and marketing support in one accessible package. It brings together the promotional expertise of Talk Direct Marketing and the financial know-how of ABL Capital, which helps businesses to source and negotiate tailored financial packages.

The business partners aim to offer clients a personal one-to-one service of the kind once offered by high street bank branch managers.

Chartered marketeer Alex Beardsley, Talk Direct Marketing owner, who was Duke of York Young Entrepreneur of the Year in 2013, said the ABL’s integrated approach was more time-efficient for clients.

“Outsourcing both marketing and funding strategies to one central management company allows hard-pressed business people to concentrate on their core functions – and on doing the job they do best,” she said.

The new partnership began after Talk Direct Marketing took on branding and marketing work for ABL when it launched two years ago after Andy Redman ‘discovered’ Alex on LinkedIn, the business social network.

Alex said: “It soon became apparent that we had synergy businesses and were very often working with the same customers. The services we provide complement each other perfectly in helping SMEs to fund and grow their businesses.

“We realised it would surely be more cost-effective and efficient for our customers if they could access these strategic services as one tailored package and yet we found to our surprise that it was not common practice to combine these functions.

“The idea is that we work with businesses as part of their team on an ongoing basis to implement their marketing activity and develop their funding and working capital plans, improving cash flow and supporting long term growth.”

Andy works with a panel of more than 70 potential funders offering practical and commercial advice which he uses to source the best options for his clients. He also has access to a panel of business support programmes such as Bradford-based Business Enterprise Fund Growth Accelerator, which provides direct access to funding for both commercial finance and marketing purposes.

He said: “According to recent ONS figures, SMEs together account for 99.9 per cent of all enterprises, 59.8 per cent of private sector employment and 49 per cent of private sector turnover. Yet, most of the accessible support is aimed at start-up businesses. This led us to realise that there was a gap in the market – the option for SMEs to access practical marketing and commercial finance all in one place.”