Every business has a story and twenty years gives you plenty of chapters. As part of our #ngi20 series, we’re looking back at the milestones that have shaped NGI Finance, from a young Oxford business in 2006 to the company we are today.
2006 – Where it began
NGI Finance opened its doors in September 2006 in Witney, with a simple idea to help local businesses find the right finance for their commercial properties. From day one the focus was on doing it through proper conversations rather than box-ticking.
The business was property-focused to begin with, arranging lots of commercial property deals in and around Oxfordshire. It was started by Maria Morris, and NGI is named after Chris and Maria’s three daughters, Nell, Grace and Isabelle.
2006 to 2010 – Building a name in Oxfordshire
The early years were all about reputation and about building positive connections through local networking. This period also took in the 2008 financial crisis, when lending conditions tightened sharply and the value of a broker who knew the market became clear.
At the time, Chris was still working for the bank, with a young family at home. He remembers getting back at 4am from a work trip so that Maria could leave the house at 5am for a 6am networking meeting. It’s a good illustration of the commitment that went into getting NGI off the ground.
2010 to 2016 – Growing the service
Chris joined the business and the service grew into a more complete business finance offering: Asset Finance, Loan Finance, Invoice Finance and Property & Development Finance.
This is also when the company’s commitment to supporting local charities and community projects began to take shape. Then in 2012 the business took on its first proper member of staff when Lorna Slee joined, and, as we like to say, things have never been the same since.
2016 to 2020 – From local to national
Over this period the client base began to stretch well beyond Oxfordshire, reflecting a reputation that was travelling by word of mouth and introducer recommendation.
Sarah May joined the team, taking it to four people and NGI moved into its first commercial office. In 2020, the Covid-19 pandemic and the government loan schemes then created one of the busiest and most demanding periods the industry has seen.
2020 to 2026 – Technology and conversations
The last few years have seen the business embrace new technology to work faster and smarter, while keeping real conversations at the heart of the service.
The NGI family has continued to grow too. Ian Nash (Reading) and Antony Johnson (Basingstoke) joined as franchisees, and Marion Soffe, Alex Innocenti and Danielle Jenkins joined the team. Behind it all has been a continued commitment to our community, including Chris Morris’s fundraising for the British Heart Foundation, with two Madrid half marathons completed and the Great North Run next.
2026 – Twenty years and a night to remember
In September 2026, we marked two decades in business, celebrating at OXTWO in Summertown with more than 65 clients, introducers, partners and friends. It was a chance to say thank you in person to the people who helped build NGI Finance and to look ahead to the next chapter with the team who’ll carry it forward.
What’s next
Twenty years in, the milestones that matter most to us are the ones that don’t make headlines. The long-standing clients, the repeat introductions, the businesses we’ve helped to grow.
Here’s to celebrating the next 20 years.
About The Author
Chris Morris, Co-founder
Chris is the co-founder and Managing Director of NGI Finance, running the business day to day since setting it up in 2005. Before NGI, he spent 20 years at Lloyds Bank, where he ran a £200 million Asset Finance business across the South East.
