Supporting businesses

A Birmingham tile specialist that started its journey at a family dining room table is marking 30 years of growth, from a local supplier to a global commercial brand, thanks to a long-standing partnership with Lloyds.

A Birmingham tile specialist that started its journey at a family dining room table is marking 30 years of growth, from a local supplier to a global commercial brand, thanks to a long-standing partnership with Lloyds.

Solus Ceramics was founded in 1995 by husband-and-wife team Peter and Jane Bentley, now headed up by their son Marcus Bentley and Son-in-law Ryan Bennett. Today, the business is one of the UK’s largest privately owned distributors of sustainable porcelain and ceramic tiles employing over 100 people. With a turnover of more than £25 million, the company operates showrooms in Birmingham, London and Manchester. 

Blue-chip clients and global brands

The business supplies blue-chip clients, including global names like Porsche, BMW UK, MINI UK, and Five Guys, who rely on Solus Ceramics for consistency, quality and design excellence across their international property portfolios.

As demand from global brands over the years continued to grow, so has the company’s ambitions. A key turning point came in 2008 when Lloyds supported Solus Ceramics with funding to move into a new £3.5 million headquarters and laid the foundation for further growth. 

Over three decades, Lloyds has continued to provide tailored support across all areas of the business - from everyday banking to foreign currency accounts, international guarantees, and advice on investing in infrastructure and sustainability. That support has played a crucial role in helping the business expand its footprint, build new showrooms, and serve a growing international client base.

Sourcing more than 500,000 square metres of tiles each year, Solus Ceramics supplies interior designers and architects for commercial spaces including office receptions, showrooms and hospitality venues. Despite its international reach, the business remains proudly rooted in the West Midlands.

Investing in the future

Thanks to additional support from Lloyds, the business is now investing in a refreshed Birmingham showroom and launching a new architectural studio in Digbeth - a thriving area at the heart of the city’s major redevelopment zones, including Smithfield and Curzon Street. The business continues to operate with the same family values it was founded on, putting long-term relationships, community and quality service first.

Sustainability is also central to Solus Ceramics’ vision, with the company having received industry certification to accredit the business for responsible sourcing. The business has recently installed solar panels at its sites to cut emissions and boost energy efficiency and is also partnering with the Canal & River Trust to help clean Birmingham’s waterways. 

Looking ahead, Solus Ceramics plans to continue its international expansion while strengthening its presence in the Midlands and investing in sustainable growth.

Ryan Bennett, Managing Director at Solus Ceramics

“We’re proud to support commercial designers and architects with technically brilliant, beautifully designed, sustainable products. More than 80% of our work is in the UK, but we’re now well equipped to support our clients on a global scale also.

“Having a proper home made a real difference, it was a huge step up from our previous site and showed we were serious. Lloyds supported us then, and they continue to be a great partner today, helping us manage international payments and guarantees with ease.”

Phil Davies, Relationship Manager at Lloyds

“We’re proud to be marking 30 years of working with Solus Ceramics, a partnership that has supported the business through key moments of growth. From its early days to becoming an international supplier, we’ve been pleased to provide financial guidance and tailored support throughout. 

Elyn Corfield was appointed in July 2022 as CEO, Business & Commercial Banking, serving all micro, small and medium sized business customers as they grow and evolve, providing specialist sector propositions and supporting customer needs across all banking products. 

Prior to joining the Group in 2017 through the acquisition of MBNA, where Elyn was Chief Financial Officer, she held a number of finance leadership roles. Before her current role, Elyn was the Managing Director, Consumer Finance, responsible for the Group’s Consumer Credit Card, Commercial Credit Card, Unsecured Personal Loan, Motor Finance and Motor Leasing portfolios in the UK.

Elyn is a Fellow member of the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants, lives in the North West, acted as Lloyds Banking Group’s Ambassador for the North for three years to December 2021, and is a Trustee of the MBNA Foundation, a charitable trust. 

Follow Elyn on LinkedIn.

Chris Sood-Nicholls brings over 20 years of experience in banking and financial services, having held senior client-facing roles across the UK, Europe, the Middle East, and Asia. His expertise spans corporate finance and commercial banking, with a strong track record in sectors including Aerospace, Defence, Transport, Leisure, and Business & Professional Services. 

Chris currently serves in Lloyds Bank’s Sustainable Finance team, where he leads the Commercial Bank’s Regional Development programme. This initiative focuses on place-based, socially impactful investment - supporting the regeneration of underserved areas while delivering positive social, environmental and commercial returns.

An Oxford University graduate with a Master of Arts in Japanese and Economics, Chris also holds an MBA and is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts.

He holds several non-executive roles, including Directorships on the Blackpool Pride of Place Board and the West Midlands Energy Capital Board - both public-private partnerships driving regional social and environmental transformation. Chris also serves on the board of Responsible Finance, the UK’s industry body for Community Development Financial Institutions, supporting the sector’s next phase of growth.

Follow Chris on LinkedIn