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Jamie Heaslip’s Peer-to-Peer lender to exhibit at ISME’s Annual Conference

  • Peer-to-Peer (P2P) lender Flender will exhibit at ISME’s 25th Annual Conference
  • P2P offers SMEs extremely fast access to working capital

Ahead of their 25th Annual Conference and following the promise of Peer-to-Peer lending (P2P) regulation in this year’s budget, ISME, the Irish SME association has today (October 30th) encouraged SMEs to explore the P2P lending sector as a source of finance. ISME welcomes the participation of P2P lender Flender, who will be exhibiting at this year’s annual conference Think 25 – Looking ahead for Irish Business in November.

Speaking on the benefits of peer-to-peer lending, ISME CEO Neil McDonnell stated:

“With the promise of peer-to-peer lending regulation in this year’s budget, it’s a good time for small business to look to this sector as a source of finance. P2P is a great way to access SME working capital, while also giving investors a great rate of return. ISME has long sought regulation of this sector”.

 Access to credit can be a real challenge for SMEs. P2P lending improves this situation by providing a faster avenue of funding for business owners to explore. As well as assisting businesses, P2P lending allows individuals who aren’t typically involved in investing in businesses to get a greater return on their savings.”

Flender Ambassador and former Irish International rugby player Jamie Heaslip said:

I’ve backed Flender, the Irish Peer 2 Peer lender who provide up to €300K to SMEs for expansion in as little as 24 hours, often even same day transfer of funds. I think this is a game changer and I’ve backed 25 Irish SMEs already through Flender, creating 80 new Irish jobs. I’ll be meeting SME owners at the Flender exhibit at the ISME conference in CityWest and giving away some Autumn International tickets on the day.”

 ENDS.

For further information, please contact

Wayne Tobin, Press, Policy and Research Officer

T: 01 6622755

E: [email protected]

Notes to the Editor:

  1. The 25th Annual Conference will be opened by Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation. Heather Humphreys TD. Conall Ó Mórain will chair this action-packed day which includes the keynote speech by Alison Cowzer, Director, East Coast Bakehouse (former Dragon on RTÉ’s Dragon’s Den). Professor of Computing in DCU and Co-Founder of the Research Centre for Data Analytics, Alan Smeaton will give the theme address which will focus on technology, data and what it means for business over the next 25 years. Other highlights on the main stage include an interview with David Cox, CEO of Fragrances of Ireland, an ISME member since 1993 who will chat about his business over the last 25 years and plans for the next; and the presentation of the Sean Hannick SME Award. The Great Debate will close the morning session with panellists Jess Kelly – Newstalk’s technology expert; economist Jim Power, Dr Katy Haywood, Queens University and author of Bordering on Brexit, Christopher Paye, General Manager at Jobs.ie and Tom Lyons, Executive Editor, Sunday Business Post. The panel will discuss what we have learned from the last 25 years that can be used to inspire future business.
  2. ISME should be referred to as the Irish SME Association.