PGR Timber & Builders Merchants has opened a new site in Egham, Surrey, thanks to funding from NatWest and the bank’s asset finance division, Lombard.

Graham Toomey recently took the decision to expand into Surrey after finding a suitable 1.9 acre site and management staff for the new venture.

He approached Paul Rogers, relationship director at NatWest in London and south east, to attract a loan of £2.6m backed by the government’s Funding for Lending Scheme for the purchase and fit of the site, plus additional funding from Vicky Burgess, relationship manager at Lombard, to finance a fleet of lorries.

The new business opened its doors in July and has created 12 jobs. Mr Toomey’s plan is to turn over £2m to £3m in year one before exceeding £5m in the second year.

Mr Toomey said: “Paul was great. He was so obliging and proactive. He found ways of doing everything better and gave us the confidence to expand knowing that we had NatWest’s backing.

“There is lending available in the present climate if you have a vision and a solid business plan.”