Meet the team: Carly Dove

Director of Business Performance & Marketing, gym devotee, strategic thinker – and decaf evangelist. 

Say hello to Carly Dove, who joins the CCBS team as Director of Business Performance & Marketing. With a sharp eye for systems, strategy and storytelling, Carly brings a wealth of experience – and a love of doing things smarter, not just harder. 

Before joining CCBS, Carly led regional marketing across APAC and EMEA for Turnitin (yes, the plagiarism-checking powerhouse), steering high-performing teams and delivering commercial impact across international markets. 

But after a brief career pause for maternity leave (her youngest daughter just turned one!), Carly was ready to roll up her sleeves and dive back in – and CCBS was the perfect fit. 

“I wanted to build on my experience in a role that was both commercially focused and operationally hands-on – and CCBS offered exactly that. I’m excited to be working with a fantastic team, helping the business scale smartly and deliver even more value to clients.” Carly says.  

 

What’s a typical day like for you at CCBS? 

Still early days, but Carly’s role is already shaping up to be a hybrid of strategy, collaboration and making things better behind the scenes. 

“I’ll be working closely with the leadership team to sharpen up internal processes, support our financial reporting, and build out a marketing approach that really reflects the quality of what we do here. Expect me to be in the CRM, reviewing performance metrics, and looking for small changes that make a big difference.” 

In other words – if it can be optimised, measured or marketed, Carly’s on it. 

 

Now for the important stuff… 

How do you take your tea?
I don’t! I’m firmly in the decaf coffee camp – a habit I picked up during pregnancy, and somehow never dropped. I used to be a full-blown caffeine devotee (read: probably addicted), but now it’s all about the ritual, not the buzz. That said, after many a sleepless night thanks to my tiny humans, I probably should be bathing in espresso… but here we are, sipping decaf and pretending it’s doing something. 

What would you be doing if you weren’t at CCBS?
I wanted to be a doctor when I was little, then a lawyer as I got older – clearly, I’ve always liked fixing things and making a good argument. My childhood nickname was Sergeant Dove, thanks to my ability to keep everyone in line and everything running smoothly, even as a child! These days, I’ve got a soft spot for history, and after having kids, I’ve realised there’s serious money to be made in anything child-related – judging by how much of mine disappears into snacks, sticker books, and glittery things that break within 24 hours. Maybe one day I’ll combine it all and launch a historical re-enactment group for under-fives – complete with tiny crowns and snack breaks. 

What do you do in your spare time?
Spare time? That’s cute.  

But when I do get some, I make time for the gym – I made it a point to make fitness a big part of my life during maternity leave, and now I’m hooked. Whether it’s lifting weights or just pushing the pram for my 10K steps a day, it’s my way of staying sane and strong. When we get the rare night off parenting duty, my husband and I love going to gigs. And at home, once the kids are (finally) asleep, we wind down by listening to vinyl and pretending we’re still cool.  

Have you ever played a sport naked?
Absolutely not.  Between parenting, the gym and the odd living room dance-off with the kids, I’ve got my exercise covered. Fully clothed. 

Carly will be helping shape our next chapter of growth. Got a marketing idea, a process problem, or just want to chat decaf? Drop her a line at carly@ccbsg.co.uk. 

Relationship Development Director, coffee addict, Thai boxer – and friend to the oceans. 

Say hello to Andrew Welton, our new Relationship Development Director. He will be supporting our brilliant clients, making sure they’ve got the right funding in place to get where they want to go.  

But before he was helping SMEs across the North East to navigate the funding landscape, he had his sights set on something a little… wetter. 

“Believe it or not, I could have ended up as a marine biologist,” Andrew says. “I’ve been fascinated by marine wildlife since I was a kid.” 

Instead, he dove into business – earning a  Masters in Entrepreneurship and Business Development before kicking off his career as a Business Development Manager at a North East marketing agency. From there, he made a splash in the financial services world, joining  Gallagher Insurance – one of the world’s top insurance brokers – as the lead business development contact for the North East.

That experience laid the groundwork for his new role at CCBS Group. 

“Joining CCBS as Relationship Development Director is a fantastic next step. My focus is on really understanding our clients and what they need – so we can connect them with the right funding, at the right time, with the right partner.” 

What’s a typical day like for you at CCBS? 

“There’s no such thing! But broadly, it’s all about listening – meeting with clients, understanding what’s happening in their business, and identifying funding options that are tailored to their goals. That’s what drew me to CCBS – it’s not a one-size-fits-all approach. It’s proper, people-first problem solving.” 

Now for the important stuff… 

How do you take your tea?
I don’t! I’m a full-blown coffee fiend. But maybe I’ll have to branch out now I’m here. 

What do you do in your spare time?
I’m really into fitness. I’ve competed in Thai boxing bouts and still train regularly – so when I’m not in a meeting or on the phone, I’m probably at the gym or dragging myself on a run along the coast. 

Have you ever played a sport naked?
Officially… no. 

Andrew will be out and about this autumn meeting clients – if you’d like to set up a coffee with him, email andrew@ccbsg.co.uk.  

We have strengthened our leadership team with two senior appointments, marking another key milestone in a landmark year for the business.

Following our 10th anniversary in 2024 and a successful management buyout earlier this year, we have appointed Andrew Welton as Relationship Development Director and Carly Dove as Director of Business Performance. These strategic hires reinforce our commitment to delivering exceptional client service and funding support across the region.

Both roles are designed to support continued growth and build on the strong foundations established over the past decade. The focus will be on deepening funder relationships, identifying new opportunities, and ensuring seamless delivery for clients.

Andrew Welton joins us following a successful tenure at global insurance broker Gallagher, where he led business development across the North East. His early career was spent in business development for a marketing agency, giving him a strong foundation in client engagement and commercial strategy. In his new role at CCBS, Andrew will focus on cultivating and maintaining strong relationships with clients, ensuring their funding needs are not only met – but exceeded.

Carly Dove brings over a decade of senior leadership experience from the global education technology sector. During her 11-year tenure in a senior marketing role, she led regional programmes and built high-performing teams that consistently delivered measurable commercial results. As Director of Business Performance, Carly will apply her strategic and operational expertise to drive efficiencies, support growth, and enhance delivery for both clients and funding partners.

Graeme Harrison, Managing Director at CCBS Group, commented:

“Andrew’s experience across marketing and financial services makes him a fantastic addition to the team. He brings energy, insight, and a genuine passion for helping businesses grow – strengthening our ability to connect clients with the right funder at the right time.

“The buyout earlier this year was a defining moment for CCBS. It’s given us the opportunity to move forward with fresh ideas and renewed momentum. Carly’s appointment into this newly created role is a key part of that journey, helping us build the structure needed to support our next phase of growth.”

Since our launch in 2014, CCBS Group has achieved consistent year-on-year growth and built a strong reputation for navigating the complex funding landscape on behalf of SMEs across the North East – from Northumberland to Teesside. Having supported hundreds of businesses with tailored commercial finance solutions, the new appointments signal the firm’s continued investment in people and services as it enters an exciting new chapter.

Cashflow crunch: when waiting 90 days for payment just won’t cut it

You’ve smashed out a huge order, the team’s grafted overtime, and the invoice has gone in. Victory pint? Not quite. Your shiny new customer is on 60- or 90-day terms… and payroll’s due in 30.

Sound familiar? You’re not the only one. For many North East businesses, the gap between doing the work and actually getting paid can be scary.

But here’s the good news: invoice finance exists precisely for moments like this.

Even the healthiest businesses get caught out by cashflow. It’s not always because you’re in trouble – in fact, it usually happens because you’re growing. Bigger contracts mean bigger invoices, and bigger invoices often mean longer payment terms. And when you’re waiting on slow-paying customers while trying to keep suppliers, staff, and HMRC happy, it’s enough to make even the calmest business owner twitchy.

Enter invoice finance: your cashflow safety net

Invoice finance unlocks up to 90% of your unpaid invoices. No waiting, no desperate calls to the bank manager. Just the cash you’ve earned, in your account, ready to use.

Here’s what that means in the real world:

We recently helped a long-standing client expand internationally – they were already successful in the UK, but their US and Canadian growth opened the door to Australia. The snag? They needed cashflow to match their ambitions.

We found them a global funder who provided a £200,000 invoice finance facility, giving them the working capital to scale without losing momentum.

See more cashflow deals here.

If you’re tired of juggling invoices, chasing payments, and wondering if this is just “the way it is,” it’s not. Invoice finance can give you breathing space – and a clear path to growth.

Talk to us today – we’ll take a look at your cashflow, explain your options (jargon-free), and help you decide if invoice finance is the right fit.

Online funding platforms promise the world – “instant offers”, “decisions in minutes”, “apply in just 1 click.” Sounds brilliant, right?

Here’s the catch: those offers? Often meaningless. That approval? Not guaranteed. And that ‘simple application’? It can actually block proper funding solutions down the line – including the ones we’d recommend.

At CCBS Group, we get that you want speed and simplicity. But what you also need is a solution that’s right for your business – not one that looks shiny but stings later.

We’re not anti-tech. But we are anti-wasting time on generic forms and copy-paste offers that don’t take your unique circumstances into account. If you call us first, we’ll do the heavy lifting – documents, forms, lender matching – and guide you every step of the way. We’ll diagnose the real funding issue and prescribe the best-fit solution. No algorithms, no guesswork.

Plus, we’re based right here in the North East – you’ll know who you’re dealing with, and we can meet for coffee, visit your business and get to know your wider team if it helps.

So before you press submit on that online form – stop.

Pick up the phone.

No obligation, no judgement. Just a smarter, personal approach to getting your business funded right.

Award-winning commercial finance specialist CCBS Group has completed a management buyout, positioning the North East business for a dynamic new chapter following the celebration of its 10th anniversary last year.

The buyout sees Graeme Harrison, who joined CCBS five years ago to drive business development, take over as Managing Director. Founder Peter Cromarty, who established CCBS in 2014, will remain involved as Non-Executive Chairman, supporting the leadership team and continuing to work closely with clients.

Graeme Harrison said:
“We’ve built a resilient, client-focused business with an unwavering passion for delivering exceptional results for our clients. This transition marks an exciting new phase, and I’m looking forward to working with Michael Horner, Matt Lister, and the wider team to bring our ambitious plans to life.”

CCBS Group, known for its expertise in delivering bespoke funding solutions for businesses across the North East, has experienced consistent year-on-year growth since its inception. The company prides itself on providing clear, strategic advice for clients navigating funding landscapes, particularly during uncertain times and when traditional routes may be unavailable due to complex factors.

Reflecting on the journey to date, Peter Cromarty commented:
“It’s been an incredible journey, building CCBS from a one-man operation to a leading independent finance boutique with a team boasting over 125 years of lending experience. We’ve supported businesses through every stage of growth – from acquisitions and management buyouts to international expansion. I’m immensely proud of everything we’ve achieved, and I’m excited to see the business continue to flourish under Graeme’s leadership and the new management team.”

The strategic move, advised by Square One Law and BK Plus, ensures the business remains independently owned and firmly rooted in the North East. Management team members received legal and financial advice from Clark Mairs and The Advisory Group, helping to secure a seamless transaction process that underpins CCBS’s ambitions for long-term growth.

Harrison added:
“While to the outside world CCBS will look very much the same, this internal evolution strengthens our ability to deliver even more for our clients. Our ethos remains firmly in place – understanding client needs and delivering exceptional funding outcomes — but with a renewed energy and shared vision for the future. With our experienced leadership team, robust network of funders, and unwavering commitment to the businesses we serve, we are well placed for another decade of success.”

Looking ahead, CCBS plans to continue expanding its presence across the North East, building on its strong reputation for client service, industry expertise, and resilience. Recent investments, including the opening of a new office in Teesside, reflect the company’s ambition to support even more businesses across the region.

Harrison concluded:
“This is a proud moment for the team. We are passionate about the future and committed to growing CCBS in a way that stays true to our culture and values, and contributes positively to the North East business community.”

Let’s face it – sometimes business gets bumpy. And cashflow can suddenly feel like trying to fill a bath with a sieve. Enter short term secured finance: the unsung hero of business funding – and quite possibly the thing that keeps your plans from being parked indefinitely.

So, what is short term secured finance?

In the simplest terms, it’s borrowing money over a short period (typically 3 to 24 months) using an asset – like property, machinery, or invoices – as security. It’s fast, flexible, and usually less faff than a traditional bank loan. Ideal when time is tight and your business needs to move quickly.

When does it make sense?

You might consider short term secured finance when:

It’s not for keeping the lights on long-term—it’s the “get-it-done-now” option when you need money fast and you’ve got the assets to back it.

Not all lenders are created equal, and not every deal is a good one. That’s why working with the right broker — cough — makes all the difference. We get under the bonnet of your business, figure out what’s really needed, and then pull in the right funding match faster than you can say “short-term cash injection”.

Get in touch to discuss whether short term secured finance could help you over the next few months.

This month, we’re celebrating our 10th anniversary, a significant milestone for our team.

Founded by Peter Cromarty in 2014, CCBS has grown from a one-man operation working out of a home office to a thriving team with over 125 years of combined industry experience, headquartered in Newcastle with a new office in Teesside.

Reflecting on a decade of consistent growth, Peter acknowledges the journey has been marked by both triumphs and challenges:

“When I launched CCBS, we were emerging from the shadows of the 2008 banking crisis, and the funding landscape was shifting dramatically. Little did we know the curveballs still to come – Brexit, a pandemic, and political instability have all shaken the finance world. Yet, despite it all, our focus on supporting North East businesses has kept us strong and adaptable. There’s a lot of pride in reaching this 10-year mark.”

Our journey is peppered with milestones: from our first hire, Matt Lister, to its recent addition of Michael Horner, each team member has been instrumental in our commitment to finding tailored finance solutions for clients. We’ve also enjoyed a decade of steady year-on-year growth, which Peter credits to a team driven by clarity, expertise, and a genuine desire to see North East businesses thrive:

“Our success is built on putting people and relationships first. Navigating an ever-shifting finance landscape requires an in-depth understanding of not just numbers but the businesses and aspirations behind them. We pride ourselves on being trusted advisers who can guide clients through any storm.”

Looking ahead to the next ten years, we’re focused on expanding our service offerings while maintaining the high standards of personal service. We’ll be embracing new technology and as always, getting out and about to meet our clients and intermediaries across the region.

We’ve been busy with a wide variety of deals this summer – check out our Q3 highlights reel which showcases how we approached some of our clients’ challenging situations…

 

 

If you would like to talk to the team about your, or your client’s, situation – contact us today for an informal chat.