Trinity Debt Capital – An agile, specialist lender
Trinity Debt Capital (TDC) is a specialist lender headquartered outside London, deploying £2–50M across SME and sponsor-backed transactions. Having raised over £1bn across 5 funds since 2015, its impact fund targets the north of England, while its main fund supports complex deals nationwide.
Everything from origination, operations and investor relations run from a high-performance 14-person team. And with a growing London footprint, there’s a strong desire to stay nimble, while keeping on top of their compliance risks and obligations.
Lean, but not light-touch
When TDC’s original back-office provider exited, compliance landed squarely on Operations Head, Mark Metcalf’s desk. As the designated SMF-holder, he knew the risks of going it alone, and the cost of overbuilding.
“I’ve got compliance experience, but not in depth in some highly technical areas. We wanted the support and guidance, but also needed a bit of independence and broader thinking.”
Mark Metcalf, Head of Operations and Compliance Officer, Trinity Debt Capital
A platform and partnership coming together
TDC partnered with Ocorian to leverage the Gateway compliance platform, and the compliance expertise behind it.
Gateway became the operational spine of their compliance setup. Calendars, training, record-keeping, and reminders are all in one place. Compliance is rarely clear-cut. When questions crop up, having instant expertise at the other end of the phone is invaluable to Mark and the team.
“I can say to people here: you want the compliance manual? Go to Gateway. Employee handbook? Gateway. And If I don’t know the answer, I pick up the phone to Ocorian. And I always get the support I need. ”
Confidence at the core
For TDC, compliance isn’t a standalone function - it’s part of how the firm operates day to day. With a lean team and complex transactions to manage, they’ve built a model that keeps them agile without exposing them to risk. The partnership with Ocorian has become a key part of that setup.
At the core is the Gateway platform, now well embedded into the team’s daily rhythm. If someone needs a policy, it’s there. If training is due, the reminders are already set. No clutter, fragmentation or confusion.
That self-sufficiency is important to TDC, but so is the ability to access additional expertise. Whether it’s a complex prudential matter, a refresh of the compliance manual, or the launch of a new product, the team knows exactly when to lean on external support. And when they do, it’s with people who understand the business, the direction of regulatory travel and can give real, practical advice.
It’s this mix of embedded platforms, responsive advice, and consistent performance that’s helped TDC build a steady, sensible and proportionate approach.
Staying ready for whatever’s next
TDC’s funds are evolving. Capital is being refreshed. New products may emerge. But the model stays lean, and the compliance scaffolding is firmly in place. “If and when we do something new, we know we have the right systems and right expertise in place” With Gateway as the source of truth and strategic advice just a call away, growth doesn’t have to come with greater risk exposure
“Our business won’t fundamentally change. But if we do something new and need to adapt, we know what to do. We’ve got the right team and scaffolding around us.”
Learn more about how Ocorian supports growing lenders and fund managers with compliance infrastructure.
We combine practical oversight, embedded platforms and on-demand expertise to help firms manage regulatory risk, satisfy SMF responsibilities and scale without adding unnecessary complexity.