According to the latest Lloyds Bank Business Barometer report, business owners are continuing to feel increasingly optimistic about their future prospects. With optimism and confidence levels reaching new highs we look at one key peril to watch out for.

If you have a idea for a great new business and you need an incentive to get started then check out a business start up competition launched by Tik Tok, the video sharing platform. With a cash prize and an array of support and mentoring could this be the push you’re looking for?

Bank charges are often a bone of contention. To close this Bulletin, we look at the announcement from TSB of an offer of up to two years free banking. One to look at if you wish to reduce the cost of running your day-to-day business banking.

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Over the years this Bulletin has been going we have chartered the rise of the alternative lenders. We kick off by looking at how one of those lenders Iwoca, has started to beat some of the traditional High Street banks in the provision of short-term funding.

A new survey undertaken by Santander has exposed the lack of investment appetite among small business owners. With economic uncertainty being top of mind for many small business owners, how do you respond?

To close our latest Bulletin, positive news from NatWest with the announcement that it has doubled the size of its Growth Funding package. The fund is designed to support grown plans and assist businesses deal with the current feeling of uncertainty.

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

Innovative and high growth firms can find obtaining finance from High Street banks challenging. Ahead of exiting the EU, and to ensure smooth access to finance, the British Business Bank has announced a new fund to help high growth businesses.

A new survey from Barclays Bank has revealed that consumers are searching out firms with eco credentials as part of their buying decision-making. To help businesses being more eco-friendly and take advantage of this change in behaviour, we look at a Green loan product launched by Barclays.

To close this Bulletin, we review the latest quarterly SME Confidence Tracker from Bibby Financial Services. Perhaps not unexpectedly, the figures make gloomy reading but there is a spark of enthusiasm around expectations on sales growth.

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

Many of our recent Bulletins have featured doom and gloom sentiments from businesses. We open this week’s Bulletin though with findings from Independent Growth Finance that some businesses are actually feeling positive about their growth prospects.

The so-called Challenger Banks which rose up after the Credit Crunch, are now maturing into solid providers of commercial finance. One such bank is Cambridge and Counties which has announced a new milestone in terms of its growth and reputation as a strong funding partner.

To round off this Bulletin, a look at the launch of a new fund from Santander and private investment group Topland focused on funding property developers. Traditionally not the domain of the High Street banks, the fund aims to support developers with a competitive finance package.

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.

One problem which can affect the outcome of your finance request is your credit score. In this Bulletin we look at findings from a recent survey carried out by Ratesetter Business Finance which reveals how many business owners have never checked their score. Don’t be one of them.

Business optimism appears to be on the up again. That the finding from the latest Deloitte’s quarterly Chief Finance Officer’s survey. However, a good number are still less than rosy. What factors are driving down the level of optimism?

Since the government’s Start Up Loan Co was launched in 2012 how exactly has it helped boost start ups? The British Business Bank has undertaken a review of its effectiveness and we look at how both starts ups and the overall economy have benefited from the support provided by the Start Up Loan Company.

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.

Continuing our review of the findings from the latest SME Finance Monitor report, we look at what is holding small businesses back from borrowing. The survey revealed four reasons why businesses feel uncomfortable in taking on debt.

Whilst many businesses think that lenders are reluctant to support businesses, one bank is actively looking to assist growing business. Arbuthnot Latham Bank has recently opened an office in Bristol as an addition to their office in Exeter, to cover the South West and we take a peek at how they can help businesses with their commercial finance requirements.

Finally, we review the latest FSB Small Business Index survey which highlights that small businesses are feeling much less confident that they were a year ago. What is holding them back?

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.

We start off this week’s Bulletin with the question of how many people who had a dream to run their own business actually took the step and if they didn’t, what was stopping them. Turning to more established businesses we look at findings from a recent report, DNA of an Entrepreneur, on how business owners view their current and future prospects.

The government has been keen to stimulate competition in the banking sector and three years ago a current account switching service was launched to make it easier for individuals and small businesses to move banks. Three years on, how has it performed?

Supermarkets can sell most things we need but who would have thought they would enter the crowdfunding market? That’s what has happened with the launch of a crowdfunding platform by Tescos focused on helping food and drink manufacturers raise finance.

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.