A Fantastic Evening at the FLA Annual Dinner 2026

It was a pleasure to attend the FLA Annual Dinner 2026 — one of the key events in the asset finance calendar.

A sincere thank you to BPCE Equipment Solutions for the kind invitation and excellent hospitality. As always, the evening was exceptionally well organised and brought together lenders, brokers, funders and policymakers from across the sector.

The speaker line-up was outstanding. Nihal Arthanayake hosted the evening brilliantly, bringing energy and professionalism throughout. Shanika Amarasekara MBE, CEO of the Finance & Leasing Association, and John Phillipou, Chair of the FLA, both reinforced the strength and resilience of our industry. Lucy Rigby KC MP provided valuable insight into the current political and economic landscape, particularly relevant given the ongoing regulatory developments affecting our sector.

For me, events like this are about more than networking. They are about staying fully up to date with evolving policy, regulation, funding structures and product innovation — ensuring that we continue to deliver the very best, most informed solutions for our clients.

Asset finance remains a vital and practical funding route for UK SMEs. By engaging directly with lenders and industry leaders, we ensure we are aligned with the latest developments, competitive funding lines and compliance standards — ultimately strengthening the support we provide to the businesses that rely on us.

An excellent evening all round and a great reminder of the critical role our industry plays in helping UK businesses invest, grow and move forward with confidence.

Matt Potter
Director, Arblease