In the latest Business Finance Bulletin episode Rob Warlow looks at the latest result from the Begbies Traynor Red Flag report which provides insight into how businesses see their financial condition in the first quarter of 2015.

Having the right skill set within a business is often cited as one of the barriers to growth and Rob looks at a new programme from Close Brothers, the asset-based lending bank, and the University of Sheffield designed to support businesses looking to take on apprentices.

With many alternative providers of finance looking forward to 2016 when banks will be required to pass on clients they cannot assist, one alternative funding platform reveals the extend of help they think UK small businesses will need.

In the Business Finance Tip of the Week Rob chats with sales mentor , author and international speaker Steve Clarke about whether there is any difference between selling products to customers and selling your idea to your bank.

If you would like the podcast version to listen to either on your phone or in the car click below to either listen to or download.

In the latest Business Finance Bulletin Rob Warlow looks at activity in the alternative sources of finance market. There’s news of crowdlender ReBuildingSociety joining the Alternative Business Funding platform and how a survey has revealed that business owners are finding it hard to differentiate between banks.

Rob also reports on the growth in the total amount lent by alternative finance providers and crowdfunding platforms with the figures showing strong performance.

And in the Business Finance Tip of the Week a live from a live seminar Rob delivered recently for the ACCA in South Wales on alternative sources of finance. In this clip Rob talks about one key reason why bank would say no to a loan request.

You can also listen to this week’s episode by clicking below or downloading it to your phone.

In this week’s episode of the Business Finance Bulletin I look at the news that Paypal is launching its Working Capital programme in the UK to provide its clients with access to business loans. So if you’re a PayPal merchant this is for you!

The alternative finance continues to grow with news from AlternativeBusinessFunding that it has brought new alternative lender partners on board.

I also look at a survey from Beggies Traynor on small business investment plans and news from the Competition and Markets Authority about its plans to undertake a full review of the UK SME banking market.

The Business Finance Tip of the Week is taken from a live seminar I delivered for the ACCA on access to finance. In this clip I look at one source of finance which tends to remain hidden in the business… stock.

Thanks for watching and enjoy!

With crowdfunding and alternative sources of finance continuning to grow the new Financial Conduct Authority regulations being introduced on 1st April will bring further confidence to the market.

Here’s an interview I did recently on a BBC Radio Wales prgramme, Wales at Work, discussing crowdfunding with Adam Tavener of Alternative Business Funding.

This week’s Friday Business Finance Bulletin is out and I look at the new rules being introduced by the Financial Conduct Authority to regulate the crowdfunding and peer-to-peer lending sector.

Also I take a look at the launch of a new one-stop information site for alternative sources of finance speared-headed by Funding Circle, Zopa, MarketInvoice, Platform Black, Seedrs and Crowdcube.

There’s news from the OFT on its interim report into the SME finance market and I look at a survey from Lloyds Bank on cashflow and invoicing.

In the Finance Tip of the Week, following a session with a team of bank managers I share three key things which bankers say hold them back from giving a ‘yes’ to a business finance request.