Opening our latest Bulletin, we look at a milestone hit by the government guarantee loan support schemes – the Bounce Back Loans and CBILS. The number of loans disbursed have hit record highs and proved to be a lifeline for many businesses and another batch of lenders added to the panel further improve access to the various schemes.

Studies are now exposing the extent of the impact of recent events on business performance and profitability but there is a glimmer of light. We look at surveys from Lloyds Bank, Xero and the Federation of Small Businesses which reveal the pressures businesses are under.

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

Opening this Bulletin, a review of the latest Small Business Index survey from the FSB which reveals that business finance is primarily being used to supplement cashflow as opposed to investment. Will this continue in 2020?

Firms looking to export for the first time can find it challenging identifying opportunities and associated risks. To solve this problem, the trade credit insurer Euler Hermes has launched a free-to-use tool for budding exporters.

To wrap up, news from the Asset Finance sector on how 2019 volumes outstripped traditional bank lending. What assets financed saw the most growth last year?

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.

To start our latest Bulletin, an announcement from mobile-only bank Starling that it’s to start offering business loans to Limited Companies. Starling’s 100,000 business customers will also, for a monthly fee, be able to access its Business Toolkit service.

It’s now two years since Open Banking was launched. We look at a survey from the FSB which reveals that only a small number of businesses are taking advantage of the benefits Open Banking can bring.

Closing this week’s Bulletin, news from Nat West that it’s to link up with pre-paid MasterCard provider Soldo allowing their customers to directly access two of the bank’s key products. This is another example of the old guard joining forces with the newcomers.

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.

To kick off our latest Bulletin, we look at a host of enhancements and 3rd party collaborations announced by Xero, the online accounting software provider. The partnerships are aimed at further streamlining the way small businesses manage their finances.

A survey from the Federation of Small Businesses reveals the different experiences sole traders have in borrowing money compared to the wider small business community. Why would lenders treat sole traders differently?

To wrap up this Bulletin, a review of current business confidence levels, which according to a recent survey from Lloyds Bank has bounced back in October. How long will that last?

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.

Banking fraud continues to be on the rise. To open this Bulletin, we share findings from UK Finance on the level of frauds reported in the first half of 2019. From the perspective of businesses, we look at how you can avoid being the victim of Authorised Push Payment scams.

With Brexit inching ever closer, how prepared are small businesses? We look at a survey from the FSB revealing the state of preparedness of businesses which say they would be negatively impacted by a no-deal Brexit. We also have news from Barclays on a number of Brexit roadshows they are hosting in October and November.

Finally, a look at Starling Bank’s announcement that they are launching an online web portal for their business customers to complement their mobile banking app.

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.

As well as being a barrier to growth, late payment has other negative knock-on implications. To open this Bulletin we take a look at the findings of a survey carried out by Xero and PayPal which reveals that the victims of late payment find themselves unable to pay their own suppliers.

One way of speeding up cashflow is to open an Invoice Discounting facility. To make it easier and to offer greater flexibility than traditional facilities, Nat West has launched its Rapid Cash service. Similar to an overdraft, Rapid Cash provides swift access to cash.

When it comes to investment for growth the FSB has found that small businesses are reluctant to do so in the current climate. Yet businesses are still borrowing but for what purpose?

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.

To start our latest Bulletin, a call from the FSB for the Chancellor to take a tough stance on late payment. With the annual Spring Statement a few weeks away, the FSB is seeking three commitments from the government to tackle late payment.

To support small businesses in need of finance, we have news from the British Business Bank that its subsidiary, British Business Investments, has made £20m available to alternative lender Thin Cats. Could you use a slice of that funding?

No Bulletin would be the same without the mention of that ‘B’ word! To close, an announcement from Barclays that is it to hold a series of Brexit Workshops across the UK in March to help business owners plan ahead.

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 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.

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 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.

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.

Of those businesses which borrow money, what do they typically spend it on? To open this Bulletin, we review findings from Liberis, the short term lender, when they posed this question to their clients. The feedback reveals a variety of uses for finance raised, however one reason given does flag up a potential area of concern in terms of business health.

We are undoubtedly in uncertain terms and the latest Federation of Small Businesses survey confirms this by revealing a dip in business confidence levels. The FSB’s recent quarterly Small Business Index highlights the feelings of uncertainty and also identifies other areas which are of concern to UK small businesses.

To close, thankfully some positive news! Crowdcube has announced that it has hit a milestone in terms of £1 million plus equity raises. The news shows that far from being suitable for small finance requirements, equity crowdfunding is meeting the needs of larger, more ambitious business owners.

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.