S & U Plc

Founded in 1938 and floated on the stock exchange in 1961 S&U plc is the United Kingdom’s foremost niche consumer and motor finance provider. We have over 140,000 customers and we provide work for nearly 800 people.

Home Credit - Loansathome4U

S&U was founded in Birmingham in 1938 by Clifford Coombs, a charismatic figure from South Wales. His secret lay in his ability to charm and motivate people, whether they were customers or employees. By 1975, changing customer tastes and sophistication saw S&U and its sister company S.D. Taylor Ltd transform their goods based credit businesses into a finance and HP operation. This was successfully taken forward by Clifford’s sons Derek and Keith Coombs for the following three decades! Consistent with this customer focussed home credit operation we now trade as Loansathome4u. 

Loansathome4u provide valued home credit facilities to customers via 500 agents across the UK. The emphasis on a personal relationship between customer and agent is as central to Loansathome4u’s philosophy today as it was to Clifford Coombs’ success.

Motor Finance - Advantage Finance

Set up in 1999, Advantage has grown to be one of the most progressive and innovative motor finance companies in the country and is a member of the Finance and Leasing Association. Advantage employ over 70 people and has provided motor finance for over 40,000 customers across the UK, growing at the rate of 4,000 per year. 

Operating within the non-prime market sector, Advantage has built its excellent reputation and track record on quality as opposed to quantity. Funding is invested wisely through a very experienced management team the majority of whom have been with the Company since inception. Low staff turnover and a strong focus on reward and recognition are fundamental to the success of Advantage Which has achieved eleven consecutive years of record profits.

Anthony Coombs MA (Oxon) Chairman

Nominations Committee

Joined S&U in 1975 and was appointed Managing Director in 1999 and then Chairman in 2008. Between 1987 and 1997 served as a Member of Parliament and was a member of the Government. Serves on the Executive of the Consumer Credit Association and chairs its Public Relations Committee and is a director of a number of companies and charities including chairing the trustees of the National Institute for Conductive Education.

Graham Coombs MA (Oxon) MSc (Lon) Deputy Chairman

Nominations Committee

Joined S&U after graduating from London Business School in 1976. He is responsible for the subsidiary, S D Taylor Limited and for property matters.

Chris Redford ACA Group Finance Director

A Chartered accountant with over 10 years business experience in the Fast Moving Consumer Goods, food and travel sectors prior to his appointment as Finance Director of Advantage Finance in 1999. Following a successful start up period for Advantage he was appointed as Group Finance Director with effect from 1 March 2004.

Guy Thompson Managing Director of Advantage Finance

Guy joined the Group in 1999 as Managing Director of Advantage Finance and has overseen an excellent performance in their first 12 years. Guy has a strong track record in the finance and motor sectors and since his appointment brings these skills to the Board of S&U plc.

Mike Mullins Managing Director of Home Credit

Mike joined S&U in 1997 and started out as an agent in the then Newton Abbot branch covering Torbay, after 9 months taking over as branch manager of the same branch. He then moved through different ranks of management and in September 2009 assumed overall control of our Group home credit operations.

Mike Thompson DMS FIoD Managing Director of SD Taylor Limited

First joined the Group in 1985 as an SD Taylor representative in the Warrington and Widnes areas and has had wider Home Credit experience with Provident and Shopacheck. Rejoined the Group as a manager in 1994, and was appointed SD Taylor Managing Director in 2000 since when Mike has successfully overseen significant growth in our northern home credit operation.

Demetrios Markou MBE FCA Non-executive

Nominations, Audit and Remuneration Committees

A Chartered Accountant with over 35 years experience in public practice in Birmingham and director of many private companies. He has extensive commercial and political experience.

Keith Smith TD FCIM Non-executive

Nominations, Audit and Remuneration Committees

A former member of the London Stock Exchange and Fellow of the Securities Institute, he has been a principal in stockbroking firms for more than thirty years, specialising in corporate finance. He is the senior non-executive director.

Fiann Coombs BA (Lon) MSc (Lon) Non-executive

An economic analyst with wide-ranging professional and commercial skills and experience, Fiann has brought these skills to the considerable benefit of the S&U Group since his appointment to the Board in 2002.

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