Stoke Park Finance Limited
              
HCVA-T0054
            

How did you either start, or join the business?  

My background is in engineering and finance. I met my wife Sarah whilst working for Lloyds Banking Group and in 2000 my father in law Ronnie, who established Stoke Park 30 years ago this year, asked us both to join the family business. I have a passion for cars and Stoke Park has strong experience in the classic and prestige car market, so joining Stoke Park was an exciting opportunity. We moved to Glasgow from our home in Cheltenham and have never looked back (although we will move south again one day – Glasgow is very cold and wet!)

What has been your proudest moment in work? 

Expanding the classic car funding element of the business to the point we are at today, where we are recognised by our panel of funders for our knowledge and expertise in the sector.

In your opinion, why should HCVA members use your services? 

We are not tied to any one supplier, and we have a wide panel of funders. This allows members to have one contact for all of their funding needs, but access through us to a much wider market.  Whether your member is buying their dream car, from a dealer or from a friend, or simply wishes to refinance the car in order to raise some equity, we have funders who can accommodate. We provide on the spot quotations and simple honest funding from the start, with no hidden extras.  We take true pride in our reputation, having  many repeat customers dating back over the full 30 years the company has been trading.

What is the most valuable lesson your work has taught you? 

Really understand the markets in which you place finance, take time to get to know your customer, and if you look after your customers, they will come back to you.

What piece of advice about your work would you give your younger self? 

Fight for what your believe in.  Underwriters do make wrong decisions, and it is ok to question their thinking.

What is your favourite car that you have owned - and why? 

BMW 640 Grand Coupe – effortlessly fast and elegant

What is your least favourite car that you have owned - and why? 

BMW 640 Grand Coupe – never spent more money on tyres destroyed by potholes!

What is a great example of a future classic in your opinion? 

Aston Martin DB7 GTA – the final limited number run of the V12.

What has been your favourite ever classic car experience? 

Blasting down country lanes with my Father in-law in his primrose Jaguar V12 E-type

Why did you join the HCVA? 

We are very select in the marketing we do and in the associations that we join, but we were attracted to HCVA because it represents an industry we thoroughly enjoy being part of, and its values mirror our own - respect for authenticity, belief in excellence, exemplary standards and commitment to transparency. A solid finance partner must have all of these things.

What do you wish we had asked you but didn't? And what's the answer to that question? 

Would you like to take part in a second interview? No thank you! I do not enjoy speaking about myself, but I have a real passion for our family business, growing and maintaining client relationships. What we do at Stoke Park we do very well, with integrity, discretion, professionalism, and warmth. We do not market ourselves as often as others, the business has grown almost entirely through word of mouth, and we look forward to continuing this through the HCVA and its members.