Press Releases

Ref. : EL_1m_credit(PR2)
Date : 15th June 2010

Essex Leisure wins £1m credit facility

Pub amusement machine supplier Essex Leisure, a member of the IOA Group, has made history by becoming the first gaming machine operator to secure an Enterprise Finance Guarantee (EFG) Scheme Government Loan with Barclays Bank. The EFG is a business development initiative in which the Government provides a guarantee of up to 75 per cent to lenders on loans to businesses with turnovers of up to £25m.

This £1million plus facility will increase the company’s financial standing and allow it to further satisfy demand, take advantage of the continued opportunities in the market place and grow its estate of gaming and amusement machines. Despite poor trading conditions impacting both the gaming sector and the on-trade, Essex Leisure has been successful in more than doubling company turnover since 2008 to its current level of in excess of £6million/year.




Steve Hawkins, chief executive of Essex Leisure said: “We are delighted to be working with Barclays Bank to help build the business. We understand that this is the largest loan they have made under the EFG scheme and it demonstrates the faith they have in our vision for the company. We are looking forward to the opportunities and the flexibility that this new facility will give us to expand and grow the business over the mid-term."


IOA contact: Ken Mullarkey (Sales Executive)

Tel: 01622 719163
Mob: 07768 537101
Email: ken.mullarkey@i-o-a.com

Media enquiries to Chris Jones at Scott & Jones Communications
Tel: 01273 699900
Email: info@sjc.co.uk