Board Members

Stephen is Chief Executive of BCRS Business Loans. With extensive experience in the finance sector, Stephen has secured over £40 million in funding and is responsible for leading and shaping the strategic direction of BCRS.

Boasting over 20 years’ experience leading British trade associations and as a previous chair of the Peer-to-Peer Finance Association, Paul Smee was appointed as Chair of the Board at our Annual General Meeting in September 2021.

Paul has been a member of the Gibraltar Financial Services Commission since September 2020 and, amongst other roles, was previously chief executive of UK Payments and the Council of Mortgage Lenders. He is also heavily involved with social housing regulation, as deputy chair of the Regulator of Social Housing.

Commenting on his appointment, Paul Smee said: “I am delighted to have joined BCRS Business Loans as chair and relish the opportunity to be part of a rapidly growing organisation that continues to do so much to support the growth and survival of businesses that are unable to access finance from traditional lenders.”

Geoff Edge has had a long career as a regeneration and business support consultant. Prior to establishing Geonomics Ltd in 2007, he was Chairman and later Chairman and Chief Executive of WM Enterprise Ltd. This was a consultancy and venture capital company, which he founded and ran for twenty-five years. He has also held senior positions at PE International plc and WS Atkins plc.

As well as his private sector knowledge, he has wide experience of the public sector. He was MP for Aldridge-Brownhills and served as Parliamentary Private Secretary in the Department of Education and the Privy Council Office. He was Chairman of the Economic Development Committee of the former West Midlands County Council and Leader of Walsall Metropolitan Borough Council.

Alan has worked in financial services for nearly 30 years holding a number of senior marketing positions.

As and experienced marketer with a real interest in and experience of the SME Midlands marketplace, mutual and co-operative business models, helping the Midlands economy grow, and a passion for doing the right thing for customers, Alan can bring this experience and these interests to support BCRS with a particular focus on helping the organisation develop a sustainable growth strategy.

Norman is an experienced professional involved in the sourcing, management and strategic use of both public and private funding. He has held both Directorships, and Non-Executive positions with a wide variety of organisations. He specialises in the SME market place and has an in-depth knowledge of the types of finance suitable for these sized businesses.

Ninder Johal joins the not-for-profit lender as an experienced entrepreneur and a long-standing champion for the West Midlands economy. He is currently managing director of the Nachural Group and holds several Board positions at organisations such as the West Midlands Growth Company and the Black Country Local Enterprise Partnership. Mr Johal was previously President of the Black Country Chamber of Commerce and was recently appointed Deputy Lieutenant for the West Midlands.

Barbara Rainford joins BCRS Business Loans as a long-standing advocate of the co-operative movement, of which we are proud to be part of. Having run her own businesses since the age of eighteen, Barbara has extensive experience as an entrepreneur and running SMEs. Barbara is currently Director at the The Midcounties Co-operative and is a Partner at Strawberry Fields.

Barbara is also an experienced Board Member. She currently sits on the Board at The Co-op Press and Shropshire Providers Consortium.

Andy is a key member of the leadership team, heads up our Business Development Managers based across the West Midlands and plays a key role in delivering BCRS’ five-year growth strategy to increase lending and social impact.