Acorn’s vision, since day one in 2003, has been to offer an alternative source of funding for Jersey customers, based on loans individually tailored to meet the customers’ needs.
At launch, the founding partners refreshed the market, offering individual finance solutions that recognised all our needs and circumstances, whether we are consumer or business customers, are different. Gone were the ‘off the shelf’ solutions with inflexible rates and reams of paperwork and that ethos remains today.
Acorn is a profitable, well respected and market-leading Jersey based asset and consumer finance business, which has built an excellent reputation for client service over the last 13 years. At present the company has a significant lending book and it is the intention of management to grow this significantly.
Acorn is founded on a track record of financial expertise and excellence and was established in 2003 by Richard Harrop and two other founding partners. Two of the three founders were previously Directors of RoyScot Jersey Limited, a joint venture with the Royal Bank of Scotland Group Plc (“RBS”) which they had helped develop into the largest asset and consumer finance business in the Channel Islands.
With the merger of RoyScot with NatWest’s asset finance business in 2000, following the RBS takeover of NatWest, Richard took the opportunity to leave RoyScot and set up Acorn.
The early day hire purchase loans swiftly evolved and soon Acorn had built a valued client base ranging from consumers to larger corporate organisations. The mix of financial solutions soon ranged from small consumer loans to much larger business loans.
The launch of Acorn Mortgages in 2015 strengthened this offering, and reinforced Acorn’s continued commitment to providing excellent tailored solutions for the Jersey community.
In 2009 and 2011 Acorn Finance and Acorn Mortgages respectively were recognised for outstanding achievement, being awarded ‘Overall Business of the Year Award’, the highest accolade from the respected Jersey Enterprise Awards.
In June 2015, after 12 successful years and in order to facilitate further growth, 50% of Acorn Group was sold to Bailiwick Investments Limited and Sealyham Investments Limited, two leading Channel Island businesses looking for local investment opportunities. The remaining 50% of the Group is owned by Richard Harrop, Acorn’s Chief Executive Officer.
The majority of Acorn’s small and dedicated team has been with the business since its inception. This is more than just a business; more like a big family. Acorn values the contribution to the business of every employee, at every level of the organisation.