When the alternative finance providers entered the market to satisfy small businesses demand for finance, it was personal investors who provide the cash. We are now seeing institutional investors taking serious interest in the sector with announcements of tie-ups from Funding Circle and Thin Cats.

As well as holding back growth, late payment can have a costly impact on small businesses. BACS, the payment service provider, has taken a look at how late payment can affect small businesses, both in terms of cash and other knock-on effects.

To close this Bulletin, news from short-term lender Iwoca, which has announced agreements with another two major High Banks to utilise the benefits of Open Banking. Another step forward in speeding up access to finance.

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With the government keen to boost exports, UK Export Finance has announced a new support initiative to help improve the flow of finance to exporters. To open the Bulletin, we look at how it will work and which other businesses will benefit.

Access to finance remains a hot topic. We share findings and suggestions from a new report, ‘Banking Small Businesses’, which it’s hoped will be picked up by government and banks to boost small business funding opportunities.

Whenever we feature the problems surrounding late payment, it’s rare that there is any good news. Whilst a recent survey undertaken by BACS, the payment service provider, has its fair share of gloomy statistics, there is at least one glimmer of hope in terms of reducing late payments.

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In the latest Business Finance Bulletin episode Business Loan Services’ Rob Warlow takes a look at a recent survey carried out by short-term business loan provider Just Cashflow on business owners skills gaps and what they wished they had known when they first started out in business.

Late payment continues to be a problem for growing businesses and Rob shares findings from two surveys carried out by BACS and the Asset Based Finance Association which reveal a mixture of good news and bad news on late payment experiences.

There is news from Metro Bank, one of the growing number of challenger banks, on the revamp of its small business offering.

And in the Business Finance Tip of the Week Rob shares insights into problems some of the Business Loan Services’ clients have experienced in terms of their credit reports which are vital when it comes to obtaining business finance.

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In the latest Business Finance Bulletin Rob Warlow looks at findings from the ACCA and BACS on how businesses are being held back from growth by late payment.

Challenger bank Aldermore has released its 2014 trading figures and Rob looks at how they are helping UK businesses access finance.

The importance of business planning and putting together a growth strategy has been underlined by a recent survey from Barclays on how many businesses plan ahead. What do you need to think about when planning for growth?

In the Business Finance Tip of the Week Rob asks the question, ‘What do banks want?’

If you would prefer listening to this episode on your phone or PC you can download the podcast version by clicking below.