AFS Group – the first broker in the market to operate a franchise offering

Remember what were you doing in 2005?

Setting up your company perhaps?
Building an established business?
Working for a competitor even?

In 2012 we were poring over the new Financial Conduct Authority’s rulebook, appointing a Compliance Officer and carefully preparing for the FCA’s new and far stricter interpretation of credit regulation.

We’d already run a successful franchise model since 2005 but here was the opportunity to do it even better.

A full two years before the FCA’s 2014 takeover we were laying the groundwork that would make us the most informed, the most capable and the most compliant Principal in the market.

Work that would define us as THE leading Principal for FCA compliance since the day we obtained Principal Status in January 2015.

Why?

Because the time, trouble and expense we invest in FCA compliance is time, trouble and expense you save trying to achieve Direct Authorisation.

The reason for our meteoric success?

Maybe it’s because we’ve been operating our franchise model since 2005. Time spent building the largest panel of lenders and the most robust compliance model in the industry.

Or there’s the sheer range of funding available; cash flow, property finance, trade finance, refinance, asset finance, business development and invoice finance, bridging finance and business loans.

It could be because we offer the most competitive terms and the quickest turnarounds.

In truth, though there’s no single reason – it’s a combination. A unique and powerful blend of product and support that many copy, a few compete with but none can compare to. An absolute commitment to helping our clients and our franchisees be as successful (and compliant) as possible.

Timeline

  • piece of the jigsaw
    Sept 2015 Synergy formed and Piotr Twaits joins as Sales Director.
  • young girl in the office
    Nov 2015 Synergy launched at Finance Professionals Show and first franchisees join.
  • Conference blurred
    Jun 2016 First time exhibitor at NACFB Expo.
  • piece of the jigsaw
    Jul 2016 Chris Blackwell joins Synergy team as Business Development Manager.
  • The golden pig
    Oct 2016 Consumer Buy To Let and second Charge capability added.
  • First birthday
    Nov 2016 Our 1st birthday celebrated at the FP Show and our 20th franchisee joined.
  • Conference blurred
    Jan 2017 First Synergy Conference
  • ducks in a circle
    Feb 2017 AFS Group formed.
  • Toy rocket
    Mar 2017 Launch into Residential mortgage market.
  • Paper chain
    Jul 2017 Became Legal & General Mortgage Club commercial deal partner.
  • 100 birthday balloon
    Oct 2017 100th Blog post and our 40th franchisee joined!
  • piece of the jigsaw
    Nov 2017 Kate Pratt joins the Synergy team from AFS.
  • Pop up box
    Mar 2018 First awards short listing at Business Money Facts Awards for best commercial mortgage introducer of the year.
  • Commercial Mortgage
    Mar 2018 New premises.
  • piece of the jigsaw
    May 2018 Mark Fox, second Business Development Manager joins Synergy team.
  • Pop up box
    Jun 2018 Shortlisted for best commercial broker at Bridging & Commercial Awards and the SFI Awards.
  • Pop up box
    2022 Business Money Faces Awards - Commended - Commercial Mortgage of the Year 2023
  • Pop up box
    2022 Bridging & Commercial Best Commercial Broker 2021 & 2022
Contacts
AFS Group, Asset Finance Solutions & AFS Compliance
  • Greenbank Court, Challenge Way, Greenbank Business Park, Blackburn, BB1 5QB
  • Tel: 01254 958777
Synergy Commercial Finance
  • Lindum Business Park, York Road, Elvington, York YO41 4XR
  • Tel: 01904 481786
Business Moneyfacts Awards 2023 Highly Commended Business Moneyfacts Awards 2023 Commended Business Moneyfacts Awards 2024 Finalist
B&C Awards 2023 Winner Broker Network of the Year 2022