Geoff will lead a team of five members in his new position, which has been created as part of the establishment of a UK network.

Geoff’s team of senior managers are set to be announced early next week.

The network has been introduced to help identify and assist in reducing imbalances in access to finance for SMEs across the UK.

It will help to raise awareness of the bank’s products and services, to encourage businesses to seek the finance options best suited to their needs.

It will have team members based within each of the English regions and the three devolved nations.

This comes after the bank appointed its UK network director for devolved nations.

The final director covering the South and East regions will be announced in the new year.

Geoff joined the bank in 2015, and most recently served as an originations director within guarantee and wholesale solutions.

Judith Hartley, managing director at the UK Network, said: “I am delighted to welcome Geoff to the British Business Bank’s new UK Network, where he will be able to leverage his existing knowledge of the bank and its programmes.

“Geoff is joining this newly created team at an exciting stage in its development.

“I’m confident he will continue to enhance and build further our relationships with key SME access to finance stakeholders in the North of England and the Midlands to help identify and reduce imbalances in access to finance for smaller businesses across those regions.”

Geoff added: “By enhancing these connections with local businesses, their advisers, funders and other intermediaries – as well as public and private partners – we will enable smaller businesses to seek the finance best suited to their needs.”