Having a Credit Score at the right level is an important factor when seeking finance. To open this week’s Bulletin, we look at recent research from Experian, the credit reference agency, which reveals the area of the UK which has the highest average business Credit Score. Is it your region?

From launching a pilot online lending platform in 2017, NatWest has announced the formal roll-out of ESME Loans to its customers. We take a look at the levels of business done during the pilot phase and its key features.

To close, having avoided a mention of it in the previous Bulletin, we’re backed to a Brexit-focused story! Lloyds Bank, as part of a monthly Manufacturers survey, has found evidence that businesses may be starting to stockpile in advance of Brexit. What impact can this strategy have on cashflow though?

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We open our latest Bulletin with the announcement from Lloyds as to how much lending it will be committing to UK businesses in 2019. The funding pot will be available to all businesses but with an emphasis on those businesses looking to export for the first time.

The Finance and Leasing Association has released up to date figures on the volume of business written by its members. The level of asset finance transactions is always a good indicator of how business owners are feeling, and the recent figures are a mix of good and bad news.

To close, we look at the call from the FSB for a review of the Prompt Payment Code. This voluntary code is designed to curb late payment, but 12 months on from the Carillion collapse the FSB wants to see it strengthened.

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To kickstart our first Bulletin of 2019, a look at new research into the benefits of Open Banking. Following its launch 12 months ago, a survey reveals the level of awareness of what Open Banking has to offer and the benefits business owners say it brings.

The Small Business Commissioner, in conjunction with Lloyds Bank, has taken a look at the impact reporting requirements for large businesses has had on their payment practices. Perhaps not surprisingly, there is clearly still work to do in order to minimise instances of late payment.

With the Brexit date looming, we look at the latest government initiative to help businesses plan ahead for the proposed changes. The launch of an Exit EU website is designed to assist business owners identify how they will be affected and actions they can take.

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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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We start our latest Bulletin with good news for businesses located in Northern Ireland with the announcement of the launch of the Northern Ireland Growth Finance Fund. With three major contributors including the British Business Bank, the fund will support businesses in the region with growth ambitions.

It’s 12 months since the Small Business Commissioner role was established. With the key focus being on containing late payment and acting as an arbiter between small and larger businesses, what progress has been made in its first year?

Complaints from small businesses about banks are common place, but for many businesses, they have no formal complaint process outside of the bank’s own internal department. We look at news that a voluntary process has been agreed between key UK banks which will help larger SMEs to resolve complaints.

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To open this edition, we look at the announcement from Funding Circle, the business peer-to-peer lender, that the British Business Bank is to provide £150m for on-lending to UK small businesses. This second tranche of from the bank is set to support approximately 2,000 businesses.

The latest figures from UK Finance, the banking industry’s trade body, reveals that small business appetite to borrow is still on the wane. The fall in borrowing from the banks has tuned into businesses seemingly hoarding cash with a jump in amount of money held on deposit.

To close, positive news in a recent report by the Cambridge Centre for Alternative Finance which points to a continued rise in lending provided by the alternative finance sector. But it’s not only the supply of debt on the rise; equity facilitated by specialist platforms has also seen an increase.

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With the traditional year-end slowdown fast approaching, if you haven’t done so already, now is the time to start assessing the impact on your cashflow. How can you avoid hitting a cash crunch?

The British Business Bank has announced support to another niche lender providing Asset Finance facilities to growing businesses. We look at how Compass Business Finance will benefit from being granted access to the Enterprise Finance Guarantee Scheme.

To close, our monthly review of how the Asset Finance sector is performing in terms of finance provided to small businesses. The latest figures from the Finance and Leasing Association reveal a continuing reluctance among businesses to embark upon any significant investment spend.

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With a drive to boost the number of businesses exporting, a survey from alternative finance provider Just Cashflow has revealed a lack of knowledge is holding businesses back from taking the export leap. To close the gap, we look at an announcement from Just Cashflow of an initiative to support businesses wishing to export.

Administration tasks, such as invoicing and follow-up, can divert business owner’s attention. To ease the burden Barclays has launched an add-on to their Mobile Banking App which allows customers to create, track and reconcile invoices.

Whilst High Street banks are busy closing branches, mobile-only bank Starling has revealed a collaboration with the Post Office, which will make Starling’s services more accessible.

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A new report from the Federation of Small Businesses has highlighted concerns that growth is being held back by restricted access to finance. Is that the case or is there something else going on?

We look at the announcement from Nat West of the launch of Mettle, its new mobile-only banking service. Operating as a standalone service, Mettle is in pilot phase and seeking small business owner to be part of the trial to assist in future development.

To close this Bulletin, concerns from Business Debt Line, a charity which assists small business owners who have got into financial difficulty, that debt levels are on the rise. It’s calling for various support measures for smaller businesses to help them through difficult times.

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With the 2018 Budget behind us we open this Bulletin by looking at finance-specific measures. The British Business Bank, the home to the government finance raising schemes, received several boosts from the Chancellor with the aim of securing business access to finance, particularly post-Brexit.

Earlier in 2018 we looked at the launch of Open Banking and how it is going to revolutionise applying for and controlling finances. How useful Open Banking is going to be is highlighted by the announcement from Iwoca that it has agreed a link up with Lloyds which will speed up access to finance.

To close this Bulletin, we review the latest quarterly statistics from the Insolvency Services. The Quarter 3 figures make gloomy reading with the number of businesses entering into an insolvency arrangement reported as on the rise.

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