A bookkeeping business is preparing for growth having expanded its workforce thanks to funding accessed through BCRS Business Loans.
Drive Ahead Bookkeeping, based in Shelton New Road, Stoke-on-Trent, is using funds secured from Wolverhampton-based BCRS Business Loans to recruit a senior team member and invest in new office furniture as part of a strategy to increase turnover and profits.
The bookkeeping firm, which supports sole traders and small businesses across Cheshire and Staffordshire, was launched by director Dave Shannon in 2020 after he retrained following a 17-year career as a driving instructor. Since then, the business has grown to employ seven people, including an apprentice.
Dave wants to continue to grow turnover and profits within the business, which provides expert external services for clients including managing VAT returns, payroll services, credit control and profit management.
Dave said:
“We have been on a massive growth journey having started out as a sole trader to now employing seven staff, including an apprentice, so we were looking to consolidate on previous borrowing to recruit a senior accounts manager and invest in the office.
“BCRS Business Loans were very professional, treating us as a business on merit rather than employing an algorithm to make their decision. We were directed to speak with them through a commercial finance broker and were impressed that they took the time to visit us, which added a human element to a straightforward process so we would recommend them to other businesses.
“We believe we are now the biggest bookkeeping company in Staffordshire and are looking to further strengthen our position by growing our turnover and improving profitability.”
BCRS Business Loans provides loans between £10,000 and £250,000 to small to medium sized enterprises across the Midlands and Wales who are unable to access the finance they need from traditional sources.
Mark Savill, Business Development Manager, oversaw the loan process. Mark said:
“As a community-based lender BCRS Business Loans has a focus on supporting small businesses to unlock new opportunities so we were pleased to support Drive Ahead Bookkeeping.
“We recognised the growth journey they were on and the opportunity to employ more people to help continue to build the business. We look forward to following the progress of Dave and his team as they continue to support customers across Cheshire and Staffordshire.”
Since its 2002 launch, BCRS Business Loans has delivered £100 million in total lending to businesses, generating £518 million in economic impact. Up to April 2025, BCRS Business Loans supported 1,594 businesses that were unable to access traditional finance, creating over 5,900 jobs and safeguarding 11,779 existing roles.
During the 2024-25 financial year BCRS Business Loans achieved one of its best years ever for delivering funds, providing £9,900,502 to 124 businesses, a 68 per cent increase in the number of SMEs supported compared to the previous year. BCRS Business Loans safeguarded 889 jobs and created 317 roles while adding £51.2m to the economy of the West Midlands, surrounding region and Wales, with 34.6 per cent went invested in the UK’s most disadvantaged areas.
