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033 3321 6106Contact us

ESG Lending

With UK government plans to reach net zero by 2050, it is more important than ever to have an experienced asset finance provider to assist with the funding of the transition to net zero.


Our specialist ESG lending team are experts in green and sustainable lending, with significant experience of putting together tailor-made finance agreements that support and grow your business, including supporting sustainable technologies such as hydrogen solutions, solar energy systems, and EV charging infrastructure.


They understand the challenges that can be faced when trying to fund a new ESG project, including high set up costs and delayed cash flow, that can make it difficult to raise the necessary capital to support growth plans.


Our process is simple but effective – our ESG lending team will work closely with you to create a finance agreement that works for you. Leveraging our partnerships with OEMs (Original Equipment Manufacturers), EPCs (Engineering, Procurement and Construction), installers, expert legal panels, and technical consultants, we can provide receivables-backed finance, corporate finance, and asset finance.


Using our specialist knowledge, we will guide you through the application process, enabling you to take full advantage of the benefits of asset finance including Hire Purchase, Finance Lease, Operating Lease, Receivables Finance and Refinance packages.


Get in touch with our ESG lending team today.

Typical assets we can fund include:

  • Vehicle charging infrastructure
  • Electric Vehicles
  • Commercial rooftop solar
  • Battery storage
  • Electrolysers
  • Compressors
  • MEGCs
  • LED lighting




 

Contact us today

033 3321 6106

Lines are open:
9:00am - 5:00pm Monday to Friday (excluding UK bank holidays)

Finance products we can offer for ESG lending

Unlock liquidity by selling the value of future cash flows

Receivables Finance lets businesses unlock cash tied up in future payments from existing contracts or agreements, allowing you early access to working capital to keep operations running smoothly.


Agreement types include:


  • Energy service contracts
  • Power purchase agreements
  • Managed Service agreements


How it works


We purchase both the assets and the overall value of the contract, and you make repayments calculated in line with your cash flow, giving you access to the cash earlier than you otherwise would have.

Advantages of Receivables Finance:

  • Recoup the initial outlay: By selling the contract, you can recoup any investment you have made in the services provided which can help maintain business cash flow
  • Access the contract’s profits early to reinvest: If you are looking to grow and develop your business further – by releasing the capital from future contracts earlier - you can reinvest those profits back into your business


Products and services are subject to eligibility, status, terms and conditions and availability. All lending is subject to status and our lending criteria. The right to decline any application is reserved.


What is Hire Purchase?

How Hire Purchase works 


Hire Purchase is a great way to get what you need because you get to choose, use and manage the assets you need for your business over an agreed period, typically up to five years.


The regular instalments you pay as part of your agreement will cover: 


  • The asset's depreciation
  • Interest on the cost of the asset


At the end of the term, you get to choose to buy the asset and own it outright.


 

Who is Hire Purchase for?  


Hire Purchase is especially handy for:   


  • Businesses who want to keep control of their cash flow by knowing what their investments are going to cost them over the long-term, allowing them to budget effectively
  • Purchasing ‘hard’ assets like vehicles, machinery, equipment and other assets with resale value

Advantages of Hire Purchase:


  • More time to repay: By spreading the cost over the life of the asset, a benefit is that you can lower the initial up-front payment. This matters because it gives you a long-term view of the fixed monthly payments you will need to make over the term of the agreement, which – in turn- helps you with your budgeting
  • Seasonality: If your business – like many others – has busy times and less busy times throughout the year, your monthly repayments can be adjusted in line with your sales peaks and troughs. For example, during the lead into the festive season your sales volumes might peak, but in the month or two after New Year, they fall back
  • Keep control: With Hire Purchase, you're in charge. You get full use of the asset throughout the repayment period and may even claim capital allowance. Capital allowance is a type of tax relief that businesses can claim when they spend money on long-term assets for use in the business. You can deduct some or all of the value of the asset from your taxable profit
  • Tax efficient: Financing your asset purchase through Hire Purchase can be tax-friendly because lease payments are treated as expenses, offering potential tax benefits compared to standard loans. Although asset depreciation also provides tax benefits, the useable lifetime of the asset will vary depending on the asset and on local regulation
  • Reclaim VAT: If you're VAT registered, you may reclaim VAT. For details on VAT registration, visit gov.uk/vat-registration/overview


Finance is secured against the asset and/or equipment. If you're unable to keep up with your payments we may repossess the asset and/or equipment.


Products and services are subject to eligibility, status, terms and conditions and availability. All lending is subject to status and our lending criteria. The right to decline any application is reserved.


Click here to view our full product brochure.

What is Refinance?

How Refinance works


Refinancing uses the value of assets you already own to help your business. With Sale and HP Back – a type of refinancing – you sell your equipment to us, and we lend you the money you need to invest in your business.


You pay us back in line with what the equipment earns for you. Once you’re done paying us back, you own the equipment again.


This works whether you own the equipment outright or are already financing it with someone else. 


 

Who is Refinancing for?  


Refinancing is for anyone looking to unlock the value of their existing assets to support their business. Whether you own equipment outright or are financing it elsewhere, refinancing can provide a quick way to access funds for things like new equipment, improving cash flow, or other business needs.


It’s a flexible option suitable for businesses of all sizes, including sole traders. 

Advantages of Refinance:

  • Get more cash easily: Asset refinancing is a quick and simple way to get extra money for your business needs. You get to keep using the asset you put up as security.
  • Pay over a longer time: We can take over your current financing deal with another company and extend the time you have to pay. The costs are fixed, so there won't be any surprises while you're repaying the loan.
  • Choose what's best for you: Use the cash injection for your business or buy other things you need. It's more flexible than some other financing options.
  • Decide quickly: Getting cash from your assets helps you make faster decisions when dealing with business contracts. Use the money for hiring people, buying new things, or expanding your workspace.


Finance is secured against the asset and/or equipment. If you're unable to keep up with your payments we may repossess the asset and/or equipment.


Products and services are subject to eligibility, status, terms and conditions and availability. All lending is subject to status and our lending criteria. The right to decline any application is reserved.


Click here to view our full product brochure.

What is Finance Lease?

How Finance Lease works


Think of Finance Lease as a long-term rental for business assets (or equipment, which is the same thing). Instead of buying the asset upfront, you pay rent to use it, with a flexible rental period to match your needs and cash flow fluctuations, which we know can change month-to-month. You cover the cost of the payments, including the agreed interest, for the duration of the rental period. 


At the end of the initial lease, you have various options available to you:


  • Keep on using: Continue leasing the asset by extending the rental period – otherwise known as a ‘secondary rental period’
  • Sell and earn: You can sell the equipment and keep a share of what the asset is sold for
  • Return: Give the equipment back to us if you no longer need it or want to upgrade to something newer


Who is Finance Lease for? 


Finance lease is for businesses that need equipment but prefer not to purchase it outright. It's suitable for companies looking to use assets like machinery, vehicles, or technology without a large upfront cost. Whether you're a small construction firm needing a forklift or a larger operation needing specialist equipment, finance lease offers flexibility by allowing you to pay for the equipment over time while having the option to keep, sell, or return it at the end of the lease term. 

Advantages of Finance Lease:


  • Get what you need without a big upfront cost: You can quickly get the equipment you want without paying a large sum upfront. Instead, payments are broken into monthly instalments.
  • Customise payments to match your cash flow: Work with us to adjust the rental payments and lease periods to match how and when money comes into your business.
  • Earn money back: If you decide to sell the equipment at the end of the lease, you will get money from the sale.
  • Tax Benefits: If your business is VAT registered, you only pay VAT on the monthly rental payments, not on the entire purchase price. This helps reduce your taxable profit, potentially saving you money on taxes. If your business is not VAT registered, you can spread the VAT cost by including it in your monthly rental rather than paying it as a one-off payment.
  • For more information on VAT registration, please visit gov.uk/vat-registration/overview


Finance is secured against the asset and/or equipment. If you're unable to keep up with your payments we may repossess the asset and/or equipment.


Products and services are subject to eligibility, status, terms and conditions and availability. All lending is subject to status and our lending criteria. The right to decline any application is reserved.


Click here to view our full product brochure.

What is Operating Lease?

How Operating Lease works


In common with Finance Lease, an Operating Lease lets you rent the asset from us for the duration you require it.


The main difference lies in the fact that an Operating Lease covers only a portion of the asset's total useful life meaning you pay a lower rental fee because it's calculated based on the difference between the asset's initial purchase cost and its residual value at the agreement's end.


You enjoy complete access to the asset for your required duration, without the obligation of managing its disposal or recovering its residual value.


Who is Operating Lease for?

Operating Lease is suitable for businesses that need equipment but prefer not to purchase it outright. It means you can use equipment, vehicles, or technology without a large upfront cost while paying a lower monthly rental fee.

Advantages of Operating Lease:


  • Affordable start: Get the asset you need without a big upfront cost   
  • Complete usage freedom: Use the asset fully without buying it outright 
  • Flexible choices: Decide at the end of the term whether to re-rent, buy, or return the asset 
  • Lower payments: Rental cost is less because it's a percentage of the initial cost 
  • Cost savings: Reclaim VAT on rentals to reduce overall costs 


Finance is secured against the asset and/or equipment. If you're unable to keep up with your payments we may repossess the asset and/or equipment.


Products and services are subject to eligibility, status, terms and conditions and availability. All lending is subject to status and our lending criteria. The right to decline any application is reserved.


Click here to view our full product brochure.

  • Receivables Finance

    Unlock liquidity by selling the value of future cash flows

    Receivables Finance lets businesses unlock cash tied up in future payments from existing contracts or agreements, allowing you early access to working capital to keep operations running smoothly.


    Agreement types include:


    • Energy service contracts
    • Power purchase agreements
    • Managed Service agreements


    How it works


    We purchase both the assets and the overall value of the contract, and you make repayments calculated in line with your cash flow, giving you access to the cash earlier than you otherwise would have.

    Advantages of Receivables Finance:

    • Recoup the initial outlay: By selling the contract, you can recoup any investment you have made in the services provided which can help maintain business cash flow
    • Access the contract’s profits early to reinvest: If you are looking to grow and develop your business further – by releasing the capital from future contracts earlier - you can reinvest those profits back into your business


    Products and services are subject to eligibility, status, terms and conditions and availability. All lending is subject to status and our lending criteria. The right to decline any application is reserved.


  • Hire Purchase

    What is Hire Purchase?

    How Hire Purchase works 


    Hire Purchase is a great way to get what you need because you get to choose, use and manage the assets you need for your business over an agreed period, typically up to five years.


    The regular instalments you pay as part of your agreement will cover: 


    • The asset's depreciation
    • Interest on the cost of the asset


    At the end of the term, you get to choose to buy the asset and own it outright.


     

    Who is Hire Purchase for?  


    Hire Purchase is especially handy for:   


    • Businesses who want to keep control of their cash flow by knowing what their investments are going to cost them over the long-term, allowing them to budget effectively
    • Purchasing ‘hard’ assets like vehicles, machinery, equipment and other assets with resale value

    Advantages of Hire Purchase:


    • More time to repay: By spreading the cost over the life of the asset, a benefit is that you can lower the initial up-front payment. This matters because it gives you a long-term view of the fixed monthly payments you will need to make over the term of the agreement, which – in turn- helps you with your budgeting
    • Seasonality: If your business – like many others – has busy times and less busy times throughout the year, your monthly repayments can be adjusted in line with your sales peaks and troughs. For example, during the lead into the festive season your sales volumes might peak, but in the month or two after New Year, they fall back
    • Keep control: With Hire Purchase, you're in charge. You get full use of the asset throughout the repayment period and may even claim capital allowance. Capital allowance is a type of tax relief that businesses can claim when they spend money on long-term assets for use in the business. You can deduct some or all of the value of the asset from your taxable profit
    • Tax efficient: Financing your asset purchase through Hire Purchase can be tax-friendly because lease payments are treated as expenses, offering potential tax benefits compared to standard loans. Although asset depreciation also provides tax benefits, the useable lifetime of the asset will vary depending on the asset and on local regulation
    • Reclaim VAT: If you're VAT registered, you may reclaim VAT. For details on VAT registration, visit gov.uk/vat-registration/overview


    Finance is secured against the asset and/or equipment. If you're unable to keep up with your payments we may repossess the asset and/or equipment.


    Products and services are subject to eligibility, status, terms and conditions and availability. All lending is subject to status and our lending criteria. The right to decline any application is reserved.


    Click here to view our full product brochure.

  • Refinance/Capital Release

    What is Refinance?

    How Refinance works


    Refinancing uses the value of assets you already own to help your business. With Sale and HP Back – a type of refinancing – you sell your equipment to us, and we lend you the money you need to invest in your business.


    You pay us back in line with what the equipment earns for you. Once you’re done paying us back, you own the equipment again.


    This works whether you own the equipment outright or are already financing it with someone else. 


     

    Who is Refinancing for?  


    Refinancing is for anyone looking to unlock the value of their existing assets to support their business. Whether you own equipment outright or are financing it elsewhere, refinancing can provide a quick way to access funds for things like new equipment, improving cash flow, or other business needs.


    It’s a flexible option suitable for businesses of all sizes, including sole traders. 

    Advantages of Refinance:

    • Get more cash easily: Asset refinancing is a quick and simple way to get extra money for your business needs. You get to keep using the asset you put up as security.
    • Pay over a longer time: We can take over your current financing deal with another company and extend the time you have to pay. The costs are fixed, so there won't be any surprises while you're repaying the loan.
    • Choose what's best for you: Use the cash injection for your business or buy other things you need. It's more flexible than some other financing options.
    • Decide quickly: Getting cash from your assets helps you make faster decisions when dealing with business contracts. Use the money for hiring people, buying new things, or expanding your workspace.


    Finance is secured against the asset and/or equipment. If you're unable to keep up with your payments we may repossess the asset and/or equipment.


    Products and services are subject to eligibility, status, terms and conditions and availability. All lending is subject to status and our lending criteria. The right to decline any application is reserved.


    Click here to view our full product brochure.

  • Finance Lease

    What is Finance Lease?

    How Finance Lease works


    Think of Finance Lease as a long-term rental for business assets (or equipment, which is the same thing). Instead of buying the asset upfront, you pay rent to use it, with a flexible rental period to match your needs and cash flow fluctuations, which we know can change month-to-month. You cover the cost of the payments, including the agreed interest, for the duration of the rental period. 


    At the end of the initial lease, you have various options available to you:


    • Keep on using: Continue leasing the asset by extending the rental period – otherwise known as a ‘secondary rental period’
    • Sell and earn: You can sell the equipment and keep a share of what the asset is sold for
    • Return: Give the equipment back to us if you no longer need it or want to upgrade to something newer


    Who is Finance Lease for? 


    Finance lease is for businesses that need equipment but prefer not to purchase it outright. It's suitable for companies looking to use assets like machinery, vehicles, or technology without a large upfront cost. Whether you're a small construction firm needing a forklift or a larger operation needing specialist equipment, finance lease offers flexibility by allowing you to pay for the equipment over time while having the option to keep, sell, or return it at the end of the lease term. 

    Advantages of Finance Lease:


    • Get what you need without a big upfront cost: You can quickly get the equipment you want without paying a large sum upfront. Instead, payments are broken into monthly instalments.
    • Customise payments to match your cash flow: Work with us to adjust the rental payments and lease periods to match how and when money comes into your business.
    • Earn money back: If you decide to sell the equipment at the end of the lease, you will get money from the sale.
    • Tax Benefits: If your business is VAT registered, you only pay VAT on the monthly rental payments, not on the entire purchase price. This helps reduce your taxable profit, potentially saving you money on taxes. If your business is not VAT registered, you can spread the VAT cost by including it in your monthly rental rather than paying it as a one-off payment.
    • For more information on VAT registration, please visit gov.uk/vat-registration/overview


    Finance is secured against the asset and/or equipment. If you're unable to keep up with your payments we may repossess the asset and/or equipment.


    Products and services are subject to eligibility, status, terms and conditions and availability. All lending is subject to status and our lending criteria. The right to decline any application is reserved.


    Click here to view our full product brochure.

  • Operating Lease

    What is Operating Lease?

    How Operating Lease works


    In common with Finance Lease, an Operating Lease lets you rent the asset from us for the duration you require it.


    The main difference lies in the fact that an Operating Lease covers only a portion of the asset's total useful life meaning you pay a lower rental fee because it's calculated based on the difference between the asset's initial purchase cost and its residual value at the agreement's end.


    You enjoy complete access to the asset for your required duration, without the obligation of managing its disposal or recovering its residual value.


    Who is Operating Lease for?

    Operating Lease is suitable for businesses that need equipment but prefer not to purchase it outright. It means you can use equipment, vehicles, or technology without a large upfront cost while paying a lower monthly rental fee.

    Advantages of Operating Lease:


    • Affordable start: Get the asset you need without a big upfront cost   
    • Complete usage freedom: Use the asset fully without buying it outright 
    • Flexible choices: Decide at the end of the term whether to re-rent, buy, or return the asset 
    • Lower payments: Rental cost is less because it's a percentage of the initial cost 
    • Cost savings: Reclaim VAT on rentals to reduce overall costs 


    Finance is secured against the asset and/or equipment. If you're unable to keep up with your payments we may repossess the asset and/or equipment.


    Products and services are subject to eligibility, status, terms and conditions and availability. All lending is subject to status and our lending criteria. The right to decline any application is reserved.


    Click here to view our full product brochure.

Meet the team

Andrew New -
Head of National Accounts & ESG Lending

Andrew is a highly experienced asset finance and leasing professional with over 25 years in the industry. Now leading ESG Lending at Close Brothers, he brings a wealth of expertise gained at some of the world’s most respected financial institutions, including ABN AMRO, Santander, GE Capital, and Lombard.

Andrew has a strong track record in business development, relationship management, and delivering innovative funding solutions to support clients’ sustainability and fleet decarbonisation goals.

Daniele Manzi, CFA -
Head of Sales – ESG Lending

Daniele brings over a decade of banking expertise to Close Brothers, where he leads ESG lending initiatives in hydrogen, electric vehicle infrastructure, solar, and building efficiency.

Daniele joined Close Brothers from Barclays Corporate & Investment Bank, where he built a strong foundation in commercial and structured finance. Daniele is a CFA charterholder and is currently studying for a Master’s in Sustainability Leadership for the Built Environment at the University of Cambridge.

Rupert Trusselle -
Relationship Manager – ESG Lending

Rupert is an experienced banking professional with a strong background in credit underwriting and client relationship management. Having joined Close Brothers in 2020, Rupert now focuses on ESG lending, supporting clients across sectors such as transport and green finance.

He holds a First-Class degree in Economics from the University of Nottingham and has a proven track record in structuring asset-backed funding solutions, financial analysis, and delivering tailored support to businesses.

Memberships


Close Brothers Asset Finance are members of Hydrogen UK

Close Brothers Asset Finance are members of the Hydrogen Energy Association

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ESG finance for sustainable technologies