Financial Sector Opportunities in Late Q1

Whether you file your own tax return or PAYE, the first few months of the new year are busy times for tax accountants and the financial services sector in general. With focus turning to finance and investments professionals, we reckon it’s also a good time to look at opportunities to be found in companies in that vertical.

Annetco UK Ltd.

This fast-growing financial services provides card payment and short-term financing solutions for small- to medium-sized businesses. It recently announced that it had hired former RBS and Barclaycard marketer Jonathan Zeffert to head up marketing strategy, brand development and positioning.

New marketing chiefs generally signal across-the-board changes—and at least reviews—are coming in the next 6-to-12 months. Agencies that can handle the likely boom in competition as the SME alternative financing industry rockets towards the £80 billion mark, should look for RFPs—if not from Annetco, then upstart competitors as the industry builds on its staggering 40 percent growth last year.

Zeffert’s brief to take on brand development and positioning should open doors for agencies with expertise in branding. But if you’re in the sponsorships market, Annetco has already shown a willingness to jump in—it sponsored  the Tickhill Cycling Grand Prix this year.

Ocean Finance

If you’re in the mobile adtech and media space, Ocean Finance is the brand to watch for future opportunities, spending £6.7 million on 405 million mobile impressions this year. If you’re wondering if that’s a lot, Bet365 are second in mobile ad spending, and they’ve not cracked £2.5 million yet.

Targeting the massive millennial home buyer market, Ocean should appeal to sellers who already have high engagement with early millennials.

TFC Homeloans

With consumer confidence returning to the housing market, TFC Homeloans is expanding its presence in the north of England. Offering products from bridging loans and mortgages to commercial and development financing, the lender will be targeting potential home owners in the new year.

Leading the charge will be Charlotte Rutter, recently appointed head of marketing as Q4 planning began. As usual that means relationships will go under review and, as Rutter gets comfortable, multi-channel agencies that can deliver high ROI should pitch for budgets associated with home buying, investing and development.

Liberis UK

If you’re a small business in the automotive, hospitality or retail sectors, and you needed a short-term cash advance, you’ve probably heard of Liberis. The big news out of this London-based lender is that Adam Little, its digital chief, has been promoted to head of marketing. Little brings a ton of experience in email and direct marketing, and he’s covered every blade of grass when it comes to digital strategy.

Look for opportunities in service-oriented campaigns backed by TV, digital and sponsorships, but don’t rule out the possibility of an increase in any channel that performs.