Investec's Alice Harman on lending in the current market.

Investec, a banking and financial services firm, recently closed a £55m loan to Scape Group for a co-living scheme in Walthamstow, east London. The company is interested in supporting opportunities in the co-living sector due to the demand for high-quality rental accommodation and the changing requirements of the population. Macroeconomic factors such as interest rates and inflation have affected corporate lending, but there is growing positive sentiment in the market and a belief that rates are coming down. Investec focuses on mitigating risks in the lending environment, including let-up, demand, interest rate, and valuation risk. Their strategic priorities for the corporate lending division include providing well-structured loans, addressing environmental and social challenges, and supporting clients across various subsectors. [Extracted from the article]