When searching for finance many business owners don’t know where to start looking. To help bridge the information gap the British Business Bank has launched a finance knowledge website. We open our Bulletin by looking at how the portal can help guide business owners to the right source of finance.

Iwoca has been known as a short-term loan provider but they have now announced a new 5 year loan product designed to provide medium term finance to growing businesses. Could you make use of a cash injection?

In recent Bulletins we have mentioned that the first few months of this year saw a decline in the use of Asset Finance. To close this episode, we review the latest statistics from the Finance and Leasing Association which reveal an increase in Asset Finance deals to purchase business machinery, equipment and vehicles.

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A sign of the times perhaps, but TrustOnline, the place to check whether individuals or businesses have County Court Judgments registered, has reported a Quarter One increase in CCJs. We open the latest Bulletin by looking at the results and what the increases mean.

Innovation continues apace among the mobile-only banking providers. We have news from Revolut that it has launched Revolut Connect, a hub to bring together a host of 3rd apps all designed to streamline bank and reduce your administration burden.

To close, a look at the latest Business Confidence Monitor report from the Institute of Chartered Accountants, England and Wales. The report reveals the key challenges holding back businesses but also re-affirms that business owners continue to feel much more confident about their current situation.

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Working capital is the life-blood of a growing business and yet having too much cash tied up can be detrimental. We open our latest Bulletin by reviewing the latest Working Capital Index survey from Lloyds Bank which reveals a disproportionate increase in working capital compared to sales over the past 12 months.

Banks continue to launch funds focused on certain sectors and regions. The latest fund announced is the Northern Powerhouse Growth Fund from Barclays Bank, which, as the name suggests, is designed to support growing businesses in the North of England. How could the fund benefit you?

We close by looking at the monthly Lloyds Bank Business Barometer. The findings from the May survey provide further evidence that business confidence levels continue to improve with the Lloyds Index now above the long-term average.

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Change affects all industries and that doesn’t exclude banking. We open our latest Bulletin with a look at a new report from UK Finance and EY which highlights the rise in mobile banking and what the future holds.

One of the aims of the British Business Bank is to support so called Challenger Banks with funding via the ENABLE Programme. The latest beneficiary is Cambridge and Counties Bank which will utilise the funding to expand its property and commercial lending portfolio.

To close, we share news of a pot of funding set aside by Lloyds Bank specifically for businesses working directly, or indirectly supporting construction of the new Hinkley Point nuclear power plant. Funding to businesses in the supply chain could give them confidence to bid for contracts. Could you make use of this?

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Following the credit crunch, a host of so called Challenger banks emerged to fill the gap left by the High Street banks. One such challenger is Cambridge and Counties Bank. We look at how the bank has supported growing businesses and the range of products and services it offers small business owners.

Lloyds Bank has announced the creation of a £2 billion Clean Growth Finance fund. The fund is focused on businesses that wish to create a low carbon and sustainable future by investing in environmentally-friendly projects.

To close, we share findings from the latest ICAEW Business Confidence Monitor which reveals that businesses continue to regain their fighting spirit with confidence levels reaching a two-year high.

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How does late payment affect small business owners? That’s a question posed by The Prompt Payment Directory in its annual late payment survey. The report reveals that many small business owners personally suffer when payments are delayed.

Findings from a new FSB study highlight that some small businesses still struggle when it comes to raising finance. What holds them back and are they deterred from applying for finance?

To close this Bulletin, we share news of how PayPal has become a rising star on the alternative finance scene. Over the last 12 months the PayPal Working Capital facility has supported an increasing number of businesses with much needed cash. We look at how the facility works and the cost.

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To open our latest Bulletin, news of how businesses involved in sustainable activities can now benefit from a tailored finance solution offered by Barclays Bank. The Green Trade Loan is aimed at supporting environmentally-focused businesses in need of working capital.

Turning to more sobering news, we review first quarter figures released by The Insolvency Service on the number of businesses entering insolvency arrangements. Unfortunately, the statistics show an increase compared to the first quarter of 2017.

To close this Bulletin, interesting findings from Xero, the online accounting software provider, and the FSB about late payment experience among its clients and members. If you undertake work with larger businesses or public sector, you are more likely to get hit by delayed payments.

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A seeming reluctance among some small businesses to borrow money has extended to the equity finance world. We open our latest Bulletin with a review carried out by Beauhurst of equity finance transactions undertaken in the first quarter of 2018. The figures reveal a downturn in activity compared to the previous quarter.

Creditsafe, the credit agency, has reported that according to its research, company bad debts and the number of registered CCJs jumped in the first three months of this year. It appears that the pressure of unpaid invoices is beginning to show.

Cyber crime continues to grab the headlines, particularly with the forthcoming GDPR deadline. To ensure businesses are aware of the risks of being targeted by fraudsters, Barclays Bank has launched an awareness campaign with recommendations for businesses on how to keep safe.

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To open our latest Bulletin, we share the great news that Funding Circle has invited BLS to join its Business Champion Programme. This is in recognition of the quality introductions we have made to them, adherence to their guidelines and our knowledge of the marketplace. So how will our inclusion to the Programme benefit our clients?

More developments in the mobile banking industry with the announcement from CountingUp that it has now launched its Business Bank Account. We look at how the service differs from other mobile banking apps on the market.

To close this edition, we review two surveys from Bibby Financial Services and the Institute of Directors which reveal that business confidence continues to recover from recent low points. However, businesses still see a number of challenges facing them when it comes to growth.

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Following the announcement in the Chancellor’s Spring Statement that the government is looking at ways of tackling late payment, it has announced the launch of a consultation paper. The government is looking for input on its plans to address late payment amongst businesses awarded government contracts. Do you have any thoughts?

Where it can’t assist, to continue signposting businesses to alternative lenders, Nat West has announced MarketInvoice as the ninth addition to its Capital Connections panel. Being an online invoice discounter, MarketInvoice adds a new service to Nat West’s expanding panel.

Figures from UK Finance, the finance industry’s trade body, reveal that 2017 was a record year for businesses accessing Asset-Based lending. Looking closer at the figures, smaller businesses though really took advantage of this growing source of alternative finance. But is that the case in the first quarter of 2018?

If you would prefer to listen to the podcast version you can click below or download to listen to later via our Soundcloud, Stitcher or itunes channel.