Despite achieving sustained growth since being taken over by Tom Gurd and Peter Mahoney in 1997, the company found that its existing bank, which it had worked with for ten years, refused to extend its finance facility.

Gurd said: "The decision was completely irrational, because it was based not on our track record and future strategy, but on an edict from head office that the bank should reduce its exposure to print companies.

"Conversations with Aldermore were a stark contrast to those I had been having. It listened carefully to our plans and was willing to find solutions that met our specific requirements."

Aldermore, which is part of the government's National Loan Scheme, has structured a £4million invoice discounting facility for FT Solutions, which releases cash tied-up in outstanding invoices.

The new facility provides the company with the financial headroom it needs to continue its expansion programme and to capitalise on new business opportunities.

At the end of its last financial year, the company had grown almost seven-fold since 1997 with a turnover of more than £25m. At the end of last year, FT Solutions continued its expansion with a £1m investment in digital equipment.

Gurd added: "Our expansion has come as a result of our willingness to re-invest into the business and grow via acquisition.

"Since the MBO we have acquired five further companies, which has enabled us to launch new services such as mail fulfilment. During the tough economic conditions of the past few years, where customers have on average been spending up to 20% less on print, our strategy has enabled us to maintain our turnover by offering an ever-broader range of services across all four of our UK sites, which today employ more than 160 staff."