James is responsible for overseeing the overall strategic direction, commercial activities and operations of Funding Circle in the UK. Funding Circle is the leading small business loans platform in the UK, US, Germany and the Netherlands. Set up in 2010, investors have lent £5 billion to 51,000 businesses across the world (June 2018). In 2017, lending through Funding Circle created and sustained 75,000 jobs, and for every £1 lent, approximately £2 was added to the global economy. Funding Circle loans are funded by a diverse array of investors including over 81,000 individuals, institutional investors, local councils, and government organisations including the British Business Bank, KfW, the European Investment Bank and the European Investment Fund. Before founding Funding Circle, James was at OC&C Strategy Consultants where he advised leading multi-national and national companies on strategy, new products and efficiency programmes.