Member Article

Bank helps Shields entrepreneurs to 4th franchise

A South Shields enterprise is opening its fourth O2 franchise thanks to a deal funded by The Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS).

Aspirational Investments Ltd was founded last year by entrepreneurs Neil O’Boyle and Aidan Sunter. Aged 29 and 31 respectively, both Neil and Aidan have held senior management roles for a competitor where they were responsible for opening new stores and developing struggling stores within the company’s existing estate.

David Watson from RBS Commercial Banking provided funding for the new franchise with Veronica Chisholm from the asset finance provider Lombard, who helped with a part-fit of the premises.

Neil O’Boyle said: “Franchising has presented us with a fantastic opportunity to set up our own business with support and a structured business format - enabling us to utilise our skills and knowledge of the mobile phone sector. The success of our first three stores has enabled us to drive forward and open this fourth franchise in an industry that is growing and developing advanced technology all the time and with a network provider that is supporting this development. We are really grateful to RBS and Lombard for its support.”

David Watson, Relationship Manager, RBS Commercial Banking in Newcastle, said: “Neil and Aidan have both demonstrated an impressive knowledge of the sector and we are delighted to support their fourth O2 franchise. They are young and enthusiastic and have shown a real appetite to grow the business and we look forward to supporting them in the future.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Ruth Mitchell .