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The ‘Lap of Anglia’ cycling event is not for the faint hearted! It is a 4-day immersive cycling experience, travelling 435 miles and a climb of 14,167ft, which is half the height of Everest! All money raised will go to the East Anglian Air Ambulance which is based just a few hundred metres from the Credo Office.

The event itself started in 2013, and John took over the organisation in 2014, and to date they will have raised an amazing £230,000 for the charity.

John and 23 other determined riders left early on Wednesday 16^th August to start their epic journey.  Credo staff rode with John for the first 31 miles to Great Yarmouth.

The route

Day 1 Norwich to the coast and back into Ipswich

Day 2 Ipswich across the country to Luton

Day 3 Luton up to Kings Lynn

Day 4 Kings Lynn to Norwich.

They experienced incredibly hot days, a morning of rain and an afternoon of headwind in the fens.  The final day did not give them any respite, as they had to push through extensive mud and soaring temperatures.

We asked John a few questions:

What has made you carry on with this every year, what is the motivation?

“The motivation is to help keep the Air Ambulance in the sky saving lives. The charity is self-funded and for such a lifesaving service this is a huge task to achieve the amount of money each year they need.  2023 is £17 million pounds. Each flight is £3750!

During our event from 8am Wednesday till 6pm Saturday the charity spent over £70,000 in life saving support.

Seeing the Air Ambulance in the sky knowing our event plays such a big part in the upkeep is superb”.

What did you experience on the ride?

I personally struggled this year, lack of training while concentrating on the planning made it the hardest ride for me. Horrendous cramp in both quads at the same time leading to every profanity being shouted as I couldn’t move on a hill.

We had heroics on downhills with speeds up to 48mph, we had punctures galore and we had more aching muscles than any of us wish to remember. But having 4 days riding through so many beautiful counties in the East of England is wonderful”.

And finally, what did you feel like when you crossed that finish line?

I always well up as I cross the line, the feeling of the ride accomplishment is huge and the knowledge of putting on an event that people have enjoyed and the money we have raised really hits me. Those minutes of euphoria are soon forgotten when the pain from my legs and rear kick in again….

We are on route to raise £17,000 in 2023 for the East Anglian Air Ambulance. Fundraising is still open, please sponsor us. https://www.justgiving.com/campaign/LOA2023

Credo added to the donations as Lewis Buckley from Credo presented John with a cheque for £100

2024 is set to be a huge year and John is already planning the event. If you are interested please register your interest here https://www.lapofanglia.co.uk/2024-sign-up

The AF Group, based in Honingham Thorpe Norwich, is a nationwide agricultural buying group that delivers value to its members with a one-stop procurement service.

They champion UK farmers and offer them the best value procurement as well as the most expert and independent advice to help them save time and money. 

Credo have been working together with the AF Group for over 15 years to deliver funding solutions to their clients.

Greg Purling, vehicle specialist at the AF Group commented:

“For the past 15 years, The AF Group Ltd has worked closely with Credo for all our members’ vehicle/asset finance enquiries.

The longstanding relationship has been founded on Credo’s continuing dedication to providing first class customer service and preferential rates.  This is in addition to their in-depth knowledge on all areas of finance.

In turn, AF is able to recommend Credo to its membership with total confidence, and there have been many occasions when our members have been glowing in their feedback, on how well Credo have assisted them”.

Michael Seago, Business Development Manager at Credo responded:

“At Credo we are extremely proud to be able to support The AF Group Ltd and their members with their asset purchases. Our successful long-standing relationship is built upon one common goal – to offer the member/customer the very best service throughout the process”.

AF have a blend of industry and product specialists who have unique access to market information and commodity pricing, allowing them to leverage advantage for their members. Combining industry knowledge with market intelligence they are able to ensure their Members are as informed as possible to help them make the best decisions possible for their business.

If your farming business would like to be part of such a prestigious group and would like to know more then please look here https://af.farm/membership/why-join-af/

Credo are delighted to have helped 100s of customers over the years and if you have any questions then please do get in touch with us.

Held at the Norfolk Showground, the event is one of the largest in the county calendar and celebrates not just agriculture, but the wider business community.

This year we will be exhibiting in one of the largest marquess at the show, the Norfolk Business Hub, which will be right next to the Grand Ring on Avenue 8 (between Second and Third Drive).

Our stand in the hub is number 22, and we look forward to meeting with lots of businesses over the two days showing how we continue to help local businesses thrive.

Our sales team will be on hand to answer questions and assist you with your business plans.

We’d love to see you! If you would like to book an appointment with the team, then please fill out your details below, and we’ll be in touch to confirm a time with you directly.

On Thursday 11 May 2023, the Bank of England announced a 0.25% increase in its base rate from 4.25% to 4.50%, a 15-year high.

While rising interest rates may seem like a deterrent to investing and purchasing new equipment and commercial vehicles on finance, there are still several benefits to consider:

• Financing will allow your business to acquire the necessary equipment and vehicles you need immediately – This will enable you to start utilising the new asset right away, potentially boosting your productivity and revenue.
• Your business can preserve your working capital for other essential business operations, such as investing in new growth opportunities, a marketing campaign, or employing new staff.
• Maintaining your cashflow can provide more flexibility for everyday expenses.
• A fixed repayment structure will allow for better budgeting and financial planning for your business without the worry about fluctuations due to interest rate changes.
• Investing in new equipment will come with new advanced technology, which will not only improve your business’s operational efficiency, but also productivity and competitiveness in your market.  The benefits gained from investing in new technology outweigh the impact of rising interest rates in the long run.
• Equipment and commercial vehicles can hold their value and even appreciate over time.  This means that even if you are paying interest on the financing, the value of the assets may increase, potentially offsetting the cost of borrowing.

Cash can literally be the lifeline of your business so why not keep hold of it for when you really need it.

Things to be mindful of, non-payment could negatively affect the credit rating of the business and the guarantor and could result in the asset being re-possessed.

A well-known local business in Great Yarmouth, Arcade Florist, were struggling to find a vehicle due to a delay with a supplier and Credo came to the rescue!

Claire Bonner, Business Development Manager at Credo Capital Finance had met Henri Laxon and Jess Humbles (pictured) through a local business group and quickly understood their need of purchasing a vehicle quickly. 

Through Claire’s local connections, she sourced the van they were looking for and made the process of funding the vehicle swift and easy.

Henri commented on the purchase “We normally lease a vehicle, but we decided to purchase our own vehicle and with the help of Claire at Credo it was made very simple and easy with Claire being on the end of the phone, for every question we had. The process was so quick from enquiry to delivery, being a matter of a few weeks”.

Claire added “It is always great to help a local business and when a lease vehicle has a return date you need to be confident you have a vehicle in place ready! Working with Henri and Jess has been a pleasure, if you are looking for a florist in Great Yarmouth give them a try!”

Arcade Florist are a family run shop with many years of experience.  Offering a professional friendly service in all aspects of floristry, including floral gifts, sympathy tributes and wedding and venue hire. Credo was delighted to assist, meaning they could continue their efficient and widespread service on delivering their floral gifts out to their new and existing customers.

They have also named their new van VERA the VIVARO! So please give them a wave if you see Vera on her travels.

If you would like to see how we can help your business secure your funding requirements then please get in touch today