We caught up with Matt Hardy, our newly appointed Relationship Director, South East Midlands and East of England on what his priorities are at Assetz and how he will support SME housebuilders in the regions.
Q: What are your priorities in your first 90 days?
Meet the market at pace. I’m sitting down with SME housebuilders, brokers, planners and professional teams to understand live pipelines and where deals need unlocking. My focus is on quick, clear decisions and structuring that fits the project – from site acquisition and planning support through to development and exit.
Q: How will you support SME housebuilders in your region?
By being close to the ground and solving problems early. The South East Midlands and East of England face acute pressure on delivery and land supply. I’ll bring practical funding options and a relationship-led approach, so clients get certainty on drawdowns, clear milestones, and support that flexes as projects evolve.
Q: Where does Assetz Capital add something different?
Three things. First, full lifecycle lending – from bridging for acquisition to development funding and exit. Second, our marketplace model, which pools institutional capital so we can move with confidence and speed. Third, regional know‑how. We’re not distant; we turn up, walk sites and shape deals around real constraints, whether that’s utilities, planning conditions or sales phasing.
Q: Can you give an example of the kind of structuring support you’ll offer?
On a ground‑up scheme, we can align day‑one leverage with a clear route to practical completion and sales. That might include enhanced day‑one funding against end value, sensible contingency, and agreed sales release conditions – giving developers the liquidity to build and the certainty to plan.
Q: What challenges are most blocking delivery – and how will you help navigate them?
Timing and visibility. Planning timelines, cost inflation and sales pace all move. I’ll front‑load due diligence, get contractors and sales agents aligned, and keep dialogue tight. If assumptions change, we aim to adapt quickly – not restart the process. That’s where relationship funding beats transactional lending.
Q: What will success look like in year one?
More homes delivered by resilient SME housebuilders, repeat partnerships, and schemes that improve local places – from brownfield regeneration to small sites in growth corridors. If clients say we gave them certainty when others couldn’t, we’ve done our job.
Q: In a sentence – what can an SME housebuilder expect when they engage Assetz?
Straight answers, regional expertise and funding that follows the project from start to finish.
Q: What parts of the Assetz offer should SMEs know about right now?
Full lifecycle lending delivered locally. We can support acquisition, planning, development and exit – with funding from c. £200k to £10m+ subject to status and underwriting.
Q: Why does this matter for communities as well as businesses?
Strong SME housebuilders mean more local jobs, apprenticeships and resilient supply chains – and more homes where people want to live.
Matt is already meeting SME housebuilders and brokers across his regions. If you have a live scheme or upcoming acquisition, get in touch to discuss a practical, lifecycle funding approach.
Contact: 07585 959054 | [email protected]
Web: www.assetzcapital.co.uk
