Seneca Trade Partners Limited, founded in 2016 and based in the UK, specialises in providing short-term working-capital solutions tailored to small and mid-sized businesses engaged in trade finance and supply-chain funding. Operating under the Seneca Partners group, it offers structured facilities including purchase-order, inventory, and selective invoice finance. Its lending is primarily for UK-registered enterprises in goods-based sectors, with facilities up to £5 million. While supervised by the FCA for anti-money-laundering, its core loan activities remain unregulated business-to-business credit. For more on trade finance, see trade finance for small businesses and supply chain finance.
Key Features of Seneca Trade Partners
The lender provides practical features suited to businesses needing flexible, rapid trade-finance solutions. Its facilities are designed to work alongside existing funding and cover multiple stages of the trade cycle.
- Specialist expertise in trade finance with hands-on relationship management and deal structuring (trade finance options).
- Flexible drawdown structures in GBP, USD, or EUR to cover purchase orders through to debtor collections (supply chain finance).
- Fast credit decisions typically within 48 hours and subsequent draws within 24 hours (instant decision loans).
Funding Eligibility
You may qualify for funding if your business has a minimum trading history from 6 to 24 months, with an annual turnover typically between £750,000 and £2 million or more. Seneca focuses on UK-registered companies engaged in goods-trading sectors, requiring demonstrable end-buyer purchase orders or contracts. Personal and director guarantees are commonly required, and extensive due diligence on supply chains is conducted. For guidance on qualifying, consider our business loan eligibility guide and understanding personal guarantees in business loans.
Loan Options
Seneca Trade Partners offers a range of short-term, secured finance products designed to support businesses through different phases of the trade cycle, with terms generally not exceeding 180 days.
- Selective Invoice Finance: Invoice-by-invoice funding with amounts from £25,000 to £1,000,000 per invoice, terms up to 120 days, interest rates from 0.8% to 2.0% per 30 days. This provides flexibility without whole-ledger commitment. More details at selective invoice financing.
- Purchase Order Finance: Facilities from £50,000 to £3,000,000 with terms up to 120 days, interest between 1.2% and 2.8% per 30 days. Enables funding of supplier payments backed by confirmed purchase orders. Learn more about purchase order finance.
- Inventory / Stock Finance: Loan amounts from £100,000 to £4,000,000 with terms up to 180 days, interest rates of 1.1% to 2.4% per 30 days. Used to monetise warehouse or in-transit stock, allowing flexible drawdowns. Details found at inventory finance.
- Structured Trade Finance Facility: Revolving loans between £250,000 and £5,000,000, terms from 30 to 180 days, with interest from 1.0% to 2.5% per 30-day period. Funds cover the entire trade cycle and can sit behind senior bank lending. Explore structured trade finance details.
How to Apply
The application process utilises online enquiry and digital document uploads, supplemented by phone or virtual meetings. Decisions on credit typically occur within 24 to 48 hours, with credit approval in 3 to 7 working days. Initial funding usually follows within 5 to 10 working days.
- Begin with an online enquiry form to initiate your application (application form).
- Submit required documents including management accounts, audited financials, aged debtor and creditor listings, purchase orders, invoices, supplier contracts, and identification (application documents needed).
- Wait for credit approval and respond to any clarifications during due diligence (loan approval timeline).
- Access ongoing facility utilisation through real-time dashboards and drawdown funds as needed (online application).
Funding Agent's view on Seneca Trade Partners
Seneca Trade Partners offers niche finance tailored to UK SMEs operating in goods-based trade and supply chains. Its short-term, secured facilities serve businesses needing fast working capital and flexibility in funding stages of trade. Companies requiring long-term loans or those in excluded sectors should consider alternative options. Use Funding Agent's eligibility guide, tools, and loan comparison resources to explore appropriate finance.
