FOLK2FOLK, the national, award winning, Peer-2-Peer lending platform for local and rural business today announces its expansion into the Three Counties (Worcestershire, Herefordshire and Gloucestershire) by repurposing its Tewkesbury office into a regional hub.

As a result of increased interest and local demand, FOLK2FOLK will extend its services and geographic footprint beyond Gloucestershire to cover the thriving local and business communities of Worcestershire and Herefordshire.

FOLK2FOLK’s existing Tewkesbury branch will be rebranded as the Three Counties Hub to serve the needs of both investors and businesses looking for finance across the region. The hub will also offer a “hot desk” facility for business people looking to work on the move and will host a number of local events to encourage a positive community spirit. FOLK2FOLk will also be encouraging local groups to apply to use the space for meet ups and networking.

FOLK2FOLK exists to help create and sustain financially and socially successful local communities, empowering local businesses seeking to borrow money by matching them directly with investors through its Peer-2-Peer lending platform. FOLK2FOLK enables people who wish to invest their money locally to do so easily and transparently, becoming Lenders who help and support local businesses growth and diversification, driving ­­positive outcomes in local communities, creating job opportunities and contributing to the UK economy.

Giles Cross (CMO at FOLK2FOLK): “This is an important and exciting move for us. We’re passionate about enabling local investment and the free flow of capital within local communities to help support and grow local businesses, something we believe will be vital in a post-Brexit environment. The Three Counties possess a rich and diverse business community with thriving agricultural, leisure, manufacturing and professional sectors. There are brilliant businesses across the region, large and small. Our decision to expand our services into Herefordshire and Worcestershire is based not only on the increasing requirement of those businesses to find alternative sources of business finance but also by the obvious desire of people wanting to in invest their money locally and transparently, seeing the huge and positive impact their actions are making at first hand and receiving a great investment return at the same time. For our investors, becoming a FOLK2FOLK Lender is a “win-win” decision.”

We want to become the “first choice call” for local investors and business owners and intend to participate fully in Three Counties life over the coming years – You can expect to see a lot of us!”

FOLK2FOLK recently launched its ‘local’ Innovative Finance ISA to allow investors to earn tax-free interest by supporting local businesses helping them to access vital finance to enable them to grow.