At the beginning of 2018, Open Banking was launched. Designed to improve access to finance by streamlining the application process, Liberis, an alternative finance provider, has announced its first use of Open Banking technology to renew one of its client’s borrowing facilities. The banking revolution is now underway.

Barclays Bank has announced two new initiatives to increase the level of support it provides to small businesses. Firstly, we look at the bank’s use of a £300m ENABLE Guarantee granted by the British Business Bank to boost Asset Finance usage. Barclays has also announced the doubling of its unsecured overdraft and business loan limits.

To close this Bulletin, we review the latest Asset Finance statistics from the Finance and Leasing Association. The statistics to May reveal that following a slow start to 2018, Asset Finance volumes jumped in May with strong performance in purchase of commercial vehicles and plant and machinery.

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We open our latest Bulletin with findings from a new survey undertaken by the British Chamber of Commerce which reveals that businesses continue to shun debt. Other than taking on finance to support day-to-day cashflow, the report highlights how businesses are becoming apathetic towards debt, particularly for medium to long-term investment.

The key reason for the unwillingness to seek new finance is a lack of confidence in the economy. This is borne out in the latest Lloyds Bank monthly Business Barometer report, which finds that business confidence levels plunged in May. What’s driving this?

Finally, we close on a positive note! New research from the British Business Bank finds the more businesses are accessing growth finance by selling equity. The annual Small Business Equity Tracker report reveals that 2017 saw a jump in both deal numbers and average deal size. Could you access equity to fund your growth plans?

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Buying a franchise is a way of minimising the risk when starting a business. However, funding the purchase can be a challenge. To open our latest Bulletin, we look at news that Hitachi Capital has acquired Franchise Finance Ltd which provides hands-on support to people looking to buy into a franchise.

Continuing a trend emerging over the last few Bulletins, we review recent figures from UK Finance which reveal that borrowing levels among small businesses continue to fall. Are we seeing the early signs of forthcoming slowdown?

Whilst we are seeing business borrowing levels decline, the opposite is happening to business savings. Businesses are hoarding more cash than this time last year. Although cash held in banks is on the increase, are businesses getting the best interest rates?

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Accessing finance via Angel investors is one source of growth finance. Who are these investors and what do they look for when taking a stake in a business? To open this Bulletin, we look at the latest annual Angel investor review undertaken by the British Business Bank and the UK Business Angels Association.

Since its inception in 2010 Funding Circle has supported thousands of small businesses via its business loan product. To understand the impact their support has had on the UK economy Funding Circle teamed up with Oxford Economics to carry out an in-depth study. The results show how access to finance can have a positive knock-on effect in the economy.

Despite the benefits of sensible borrowing the latest report from the SME Finance Monitor team reveals that demand for finance remains weak. The report highlights how the number of businesses declaring they have no intention of borrowing money has reached a new high.

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When it comes to capital expenditure, should you fund it via cash or finance?

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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?

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.

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.

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.