Five Minute Focus on: Shane Donnelly, Ortus Secured Finance
Tell us about Ortus Secured Finance
We are a principal lender specialising in short term finance secured on property. We have been operating across the UK for eight years now and have established a strong customer base in each region.
Our head office is in London and we also have offices in Manchester and Glasgow.
Here in Northern Ireland, we have been active since 2015 and made the decision in early 2019 to open an office in Belfast. We recently moved to new premises on May Street after a very happy twelve months in Glandore on Arthur Street.
What’s your role in Ortus Secured Finance?
Initially my role was limited to the development of our Northern Irish business however after the addition of some great people to the team, including Stephen Davison here in Belfast, I have been able to become more involved in the UK-wide group operations.
In addition to Northern Ireland business development, I also now take responsibility for the UK Lending team based in Belfast and London.
Tell us something about Ortus Secured Finance that we may not know
Despite the challenges the market has faced recently, we remain open for business. Clearly the risk profile has changed, particularly for some sectors however we have always had a strong underwriting process and this is now serving us well. We can also tailor products to suit the needs of the customer while managing that risk profile.
What’s next for Ortus Secured Finance in Belfast?
We have been delighted with the response of the NI market in the period since we set up the office and the support we have received in growing the loan book. Continuing that growth and developing brand awareness remains our priority.
For me personally, getting the new office on May Street fitted out is the big challenge. This should hopefully be finished before the end of July after lockdown delays. Keep an eye out for our name!
What did you like about being a Glandore Member?
While the move to the new office was part of our strategy for the local business, it really was a case of mixed emotions leaving Glandore.
Arthur House is in a great location and layout of the building with the open-air common area is a highlight. That said, it was the Glandore team we dealt with day-to-day and the community in the building that really made the experience as enjoyable as it was. I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend Glandore to anyone thinking of the serviced office option.
What’s your favourite thing about working in Belfast?
Size. Belfast has all the attributes of a regional capital but is a compact city centre. As a consequence, we have the benefit of daily causal interaction with so many from our business community. That helps develop relationships which are critical to the success of our business and for me is a major positive for the city.
When a “New Normal” returns, what are you most looking forward to?
As an individual I tend to focus on the present and like many, I have found that lockdown and the restriction imposed on us over the last four months has allowed us to take a moment to reflect on how we all use our time.
Without the daily commute and with all other commitments on hold, I have enjoyed spending more time with family and focusing on my own health and fitness. My hope is that I can maintain the better habits of the last four months in the “new normal”. Ask me again in six months!
Shane Donnelly | Director -Northern Ireland
Ortus Secured Finance | shane@ortussecuredfinance.co.uk