Pictured: Stephen Karle
Midlands businessman Stephen Karle has stepped into the role of
chairman at BCRS (Black Country Reinvestment Society) Small
Business Loan Fund after being elected to the Board at its Annual
General Meeting.
Welcoming the appointment, Charles F Hanmer of Kingswinford
based company Charles Design & Marketing, said "After four
years at the helm, I am delighted that Stephen Karle has joined
BCRS as my successor. In the last few years we have grown from
lending £500,000 a year to £3 million a year. We have
responded to the credit crunch by helping small businesses turned
down by banks with loans from £10,000 to £50,000 and
now have the opportunity to do more. With Stephen Karle's knowledge
of the mutual financial sector I can see us building substantially
on this success. Nothing happens unless you make it happen. This
appointment gives me great confidence for the future."
Mr Karle has a breadth of Board experience within the mutual
sector, as well as with corporate, voluntary and regional
organisations and is a strong advocate for the benefits of
principled, values-driven Mutuals and Industrial and Provident
Societies. He has a lengthy leadership track record in both
financial services and corporate legal practice as well as service
in significant Black Country, West Midlands and national roles and
his career includes 18 years' experience of engagement in
developing and executing strategic plans and initiatives.
Paul Kalinauckas, Chief Executive of BCRS said, "As a
co-operative, non-profit distributing organisation we have
developed a new model of lending to small businesses where the
customer comes first, not external shareholders. We are proud of
our roots in the Black Country and look forward to our 10th
Anniversary next year. Our recent publication on 'A Co-operative
Approach to Small Business Lending" received wide-spread attention
at national and local level. Thanks to the tremendous energy and
enthusiasm of Charles Hanmer we have really put the Black Country
Reinvestment Society on the map. We look forward to significant
growth opportunities under Stephen Karle who has stepped forward as
the new chairman of our board."
BCRS, which currently operates in the Black Country and
Staffordshire also runs the Walsall, Sandwell and Staffordshire
Business Loan Funds in conjunction with Local Authorities in these
areas. It has plans to expand into Shropshire and create more local
loan funds to meet the demand from small businesses unable to
access finance from traditional sources. BCRS was recently part of
a successful national bid for £60 million through the
Regional Growth Fund.
Stephen Karle commented on his appointment, "I am delighted to
join BCRS at such an exciting stage of its development. From its
roots when it was set up by the local Co-operative Development
Agency in West Bromwich back in 2002, it has grown to be a
significant player in the regeneration of the Black Country. By
working closely with the banks, financial intermediaries and
business support professionals, as well as local and national
government, we can deliver the loan finance that smaller businesses
are crying out for. We are pioneering a sustainable approach to
small business lending based on our positive impact on communities.
By backing enterprising and innovative businesses to create wealth
we plan to play an important role in the areas economic
regeneration by encouraging job creation and increased revenues,
just what the country needs."