£18.1bn
manufacturing’s contribution to Scotland’s gross value added in 2023
Source: Scottish Government: Making Scotland’s Future, 2023 data
Plant and machinery
Plant and Machinery Finance in Scotland
Hire purchase, leasing and sale and HP back for machine tools, fabrication and workshop plant, lifting equipment and construction machinery, arranged by a whole-of-market broker with access to 575+ lenders.
- Broker since 1997
- 575+ lenders
- Led from Dundee
Manufacturing and engineering in Scotland
Machinery is the working capital of Scotland’s manufacturers and engineers, and the market that funds it is growing.
Over half
of Scotland’s international exports come from manufacturing
Source: Scottish Government: US Export Plan sector report, 2023 data
78,000
people work in engineering services, 3.06% of Scottish employment compared with 2.19% in Great Britain
Source: Scottish Government: US Export Plan sector report, 2023 data
+36%
growth in UK plant and machinery finance new business in April 2026 compared with April 2025
What we can help finance
CNC and machine tools
Multi-axis CNC machining centres, lathes, presses and other precision machine tools.
Fabrication and welding
Fabrication lines, robotic welding rigs, plasma and laser cutting equipment.
Lifting and access equipment
Mobile cranes, telehandlers, forklifts and access platforms.
Construction and groundworks plant
Excavators, loaders, dumpers and compaction equipment.
Production and packaging lines
Production lines, packaging and handling machinery for manufacturers and food and drink businesses.
Workshop upgrades
Compressors, tooling, inspection equipment and other workshop plant that keeps a business competitive.
How lenders look at machinery
Lenders think about what the machine could be sold for if things went wrong, as well as how well your business is trading. These are the points that usually matter.
- The asset: type, make, age and condition, and whether there is an active second-hand market for it
- The supplier: new equipment from an established supplier is usually simpler than used or auction purchases
- Specialist or custom-built machines: these can be valued more cautiously because fewer buyers exist
- Your business: trading history, recent accounts, and any contracts that depend on the equipment
- The structure: deposit, term matched to the machine’s useful life, and any final payment
Tell us about the machine
Tell us what you want to finance, roughly what it costs and a little about your business. We’ll come back to you with options. There is no obligation, and we don’t carry out a credit search at this initial stage.
Plant and machinery finance FAQs
Often, but it depends on the lender, the supplier and how the purchase is structured. Tell us before you commit so we can check.
Some lenders will include delivery and installation when they appear on the supplier’s invoice with the machine. Others will not.
It depends on how long you will use the machine and how your accountant wants it treated. Our asset finance page compares the main structures.
Often, through sale and HP back, subject to a valuation and the lender’s criteria. We would look at the total cost carefully first.
Related
Sources
This page is general information only and is not legal, tax or financial advice. Figures come from the published sources listed on this page and were correct when last reviewed. Lender availability, terms and criteria vary and are subject to status and underwriting.
Paul Thompson, trading as Acorn.finance, is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FRN 660207). Not all of the finance we arrange is regulated by the FCA.
Last reviewed: 11 November 2026