Following a recent spate of high-profile company administrations, we open this Bulletin discussing the Euler Hermes Global Insolvencies Index which has revealed how in 2018 the UK is set to witness the second largest global increase in insolvencies. When linked with the latest bank lending figures, it looks like 2018 is turning out to be a challenging year.

Alternative lenders are continuing to announce the allocation of funds specifically focused on supporting small businesses. We look at funding pots set aside by Iwoca and Metro Bank designed to assist regional and national small businesses.

Do you credit check customers you give credit terms to? To close this Bulletin, we have a reminder of why it’s important to check your customer’s creditworthiness before you extend credit terms.

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In the latest Business Finance Bulletin Rob Warlow looks at how Handelsbanken, one of the UK challenger banks, are supporting SMEs by increasing the amount of money they have lent out.

Rob also looks at the news that RBS may be launching its own peer-to-peer or crowdfunding platform at the end of the year. How times are changing!

Banks are still getting their wrists slapped for the flouting the rules with this week’s revelations that HSBC and First Trust Bank have been pulled up by the Competition and Markets Authority.

Rob looks at a recent survey by Experian which reveal that many business owners are not assessing how creditworthy their clients are before giving out credit terms.

And in the Business Finance Tip of the Week, a clip from a live seminar in which Rob shares a strategy on controlling overdue payments.

You can also listen to this week’s Bulletin in audio as a podcast. To listen either click the image below or you can download the episode to your PC or phone via Soundcloud.