"Like any hard working employee, the thought of owning a business, being your own boss, in control of your own destiny, with the rewards coming to you first, is for most a dream. Actually fulfilling those dreams is a damn sight harder than first appears to that same hard worker when the decision is taken to realise that dream.

Armed with not only a sound background and experience of the industry entered, the new businessman needs to be equipped today with accurate and realistic forecasts, good financial support by banks and strong asset financers. This is to be then coupled together with the ability to become overnight, an accountant, lawyer, doctor, marriage guidance councillor and psychiatrist, all rolled into one, which is a shock for most, especially when employing staff for the first time.

As I founded my business with very little in the way of a supporting business plan knowledge or assigned contracts, all I had was a proven personal achievement record. It was then, and still is, difficult for new businesses to find Asset Finance where the support is given on a personal level as well as professional, with being also guided in a straightforward way. I was very grateful to receive the support and trust of Roger Stone and all his staff at Close Asset Finance Limited when I started my business in 1989, just at a time as the Construction Industry began to fall into recession.

My relationship with Close Asset began with the finance of one truck, then another three and from the first day to now the current, from the good days to the most difficult (of which there have been a few), what always has been the policy of Close Asset is that they were committed for the long term, not the duration of any one finance agreement.

What Close Asset has proved to all of my businesses is none other than one of total commitment and support. The Dudman Group of Companies shall always remain mindful of where we started, and where in our future development we need Asset purchase support, Close Asset shall play an important role.

Now after 14 colourful years of business, the relationship is still as strong and open between both companies, with the knowledge that the service, commitment and interest remains in the business success of the Dudman Group of Companies from Close Asset."

Steve Dudman, Dudman Group of Companies