How can a UK asset finance broker find companies worth calling?

A UK asset finance broker finds companies worth calling by reading the public records that show a company is about to spend: new planning sites, public contract awards, first-of-function hires, and new charges registered at Companies House. Each is a dated record that points to equipment, vehicles or premises that may need funding, and each can be cited on the call.

This page sets out which records suit a broker, what each means, and how to check it before you ring.

Charges: who has already borrowed

When a company grants a lender security over its assets, the charge is registered at Companies House. GOV.UK says a charge must be registered within 21 days, counted from the day after it is created, and that a missed deadline can only be fixed with a court order. That makes the register timely: a new charge is usually visible within weeks. For a broker, a new charge shows a lender is already in place. It is a reason to ask about the rest of the funding stack, or about refinancing, and not a sign the company needs new funding. Our guide on reading a charge before you call explains the fields.

Planning sites: who is about to build or fit out

New planning sites show a company intends to build or convert premises. Fit-out, plant and vehicles often follow. In the week to 17 October 2026 the index recorded 446 new sites, against 91 the week before. The number swings, but it shows there are usually enough to make a daily list.

Public contract awards: who has won work

A supplier that has just won a public contract may need vehicles, equipment or machinery to deliver it. In the week to 17 October 2026 there were 111 public contracts awarded, against 222 the week before. The award notice names the supplier and often the value and term, which lets you open with the contract and not a cold pitch. Our guide on finding companies that won public contracts explains the sources.

Hiring: who is growing

A company posting significant roles is usually growing, and 458 significant roles were posted in the week to 17 October 2026. A cluster of operational roles, such as drivers, engineers or machine operators, hints at capacity growth. First-of-function hires, 112 in the same week, are rarer and more telling about change.

Records and what they suggest to a broker

A morning routine

Choose two record types. Pull the new entries from each. Check each company is active and in your target size. Open the record, then read the company website to see what it does. Rank by how directly the record points to an equipment need. Call the top few and note what you said. Lockley does this reading each night across Companies House, Contracts Finder and Find a Tender, Adzuna job postings, planning registers and company websites, and a 9am email brief carries the top three companies in full with the record behind each. It does not sell contact lists.

Regulation

Asset finance broking is regulated in some forms and not in others, and the rules differ by product and customer. Take advice on your own position. Calls to businesses are also subject to PECR, covered in our guide on Companies House data and cold outreach.

Questions