An experienced financial planning and wealth management leader has been appointed to the board of finance provider ART Business Loans.
Graham Nicoll, who has held senior positions at Barclays and KPMG, has joined the board of Birmingham-based community lender ART Business Loans as a non-executive director.
In his new role Graham will draw upon extensive experience from his career to date, which has included five years as managing director and head of distribution, wealth management and digital for Barclays Wealth Management.
Graham also held an enterprise advisory role for KPMG UK for three years and was head of mid corporate banking for Barclays in the Midlands and North Wales.
Graham said he was looking forward to utilising his business and strategy experience in his new role on the board of ART Business Loans, which lends to companies wanting to borrow between £10,000 and £250,000.
Graham said: “I am delighted to join the board of ART Business Loans at a time when there may be uncertain economic conditions but many small to medium sized enterprises are still looking to engage with a trusted lender to access funds to grow and create employment.
“I look forward to supporting the senior management team and the wider business in delivering on the ART Business Loans goal of alleviating poverty through enterprise.”
The board appointment comes after ART Business Loans was recently allocated £7million from the British Business Bank’s Community ENABLE Fund to provide loans above £25,000 to underserved, smaller businesses across the West Midlands and adjoining counties.
ART Business Loans is a community development finance institution (CDFI) which has been serving the business community since its establishment in 1997 as Aston Reinvestment Trust. The finance provider has lent more than £40million to more than 1,800 customers, enabling them to create or protect more than 8,500 jobs.
ART Business Loans is supported by a diverse funding model that combines investment from both the corporate and private sectors.
The organisation’s investor base comprises philanthropic companies and individuals, which allows ART to attract additional funding from a range of public and private sector sources, including high street banks.
ART Business Loans chief executive Steve Walker said: “We are delighted to welcome Graham to the ART Business Loans board at such an exciting time in our organisation’s near 30 year journey.
“Graham’s expertise and experience will be invaluable as we continue our mission to support viable businesses and social enterprises across the West Midlands and beyond who struggle to access finance from traditional lenders.”
February 4, 2026 10:26 am