Lending Works

Lending Works began operating in 2014 as a UK peer-to-peer (P2P) lending platform connecting retail investors with unsecured personal borrowers [6]. It grew into one of the most prominent retail consumer-lending platforms in the UK and is still widely used as a benchmark when evaluating later P2P and direct-lending propositions. The retail P2P entity received FCA authorisation (historic FRN 722801) but stopped accepting new retail investment funds in December 2021, placing existing retail investments into run-off [6][3].

The Lending Works brand now operates as a trading name of Fluro Platform Limited (FRN 723151), which is FCA-authorised and focused on embedded finance and institutional funding rather than new retail P2P investments [1][4]. The business was acquired by Intriva Capital and rebranded to Fluro in 2022 [7][8]. The public-facing lendingworks.co.uk site is closed to general access and provides contact details for existing customers and former investors only [2].

Historically (retail P2P): investors' funds were allocated across unsecured consumer loans originated by the platform; investors earned interest from borrower repayments and were exposed to borrower default risk and platform-level decisions about loss mitigation, including the 'Shield' provision fund [6][3]. The Shield was intended as a reserve to absorb losses and at times included an insurance element, which was later terminated. Changes to the Shield and product terms prompted complaints to the Financial Ombudsman Service (FOS), including at least one decision upheld in favour of complainants [3].

Current model (Fluro): the business provides embedded finance solutions and lending technology to partner firms, funded by institutional credit lines rather than retail investors. Individual retail investors cannot subscribe to new lending through the Lending Works/Fluro trading name; origination and funding are arranged on a B2B basis [4].

Historical retail P2P (closed): unsecured personal loans for borrowers; retail investors could choose between product wrappers (historically 'Flexible' and 'Growth') with an Innovative Finance ISA (IFISA) wrapper for eligible holdings. Loan terms ranged across multi-month durations, and Lending Works reported cumulative origination of approximately £240.3m by the time retail operations wound down [6].

Current offering (Fluro): embedded finance and underwriting services for partner firms and intermediaries integrating consumer credit, funded by institutional partners [4]. No new retail investment products are available.

Retail investors: Lending Works no longer accepts new retail investments and is not a viable route for new investor capital. Existing retail investments remain in run-off as borrowers repay loans [6][2].

Business partners / intermediaries: Fluro markets embedded finance and B2B lending solutions to firms wanting to integrate consumer credit; these services are institutionally funded and aimed at corporate partners rather than individual lenders [4].