To start our latest Business Finance Bulletin, we look at how the British Business Bank continues to support small businesses in need of finance. Their 2019 Annual Report sets out how they are improving access to finance in all regions across the UK.

With late payment being an ever-present feature of managing a small business, news from the Prompt Payment Code about membership suspension for a number of high-profile names due to them not adhering to the voluntary payment code.

To close, we review a joint report from the Small Business Commissioner and Growth Street which considers how small business owners see Open Banking. The findings reveal a higher level of awareness and interest than perhaps expected.

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In order to boost exports, we open our latest Bulletin by looking at a new range of advice and financial support being provided by UK Export Finance. The new support packages are particularly designed to encourage small businesses to become first-time exporters.

The Financial Conduct Authority has issued revised regulations for the Peer to Peer market. Whilst focused on protecting private investors, could the measures impact the flow of funds available for lending to small businesses?

Recently we have seen more lenders partnering up with other small business service providers to improve access to finance. The service providers may not be directly in the financial services sector, but the partnerships are a win-win for all parties. Who are the latest businesses to link up to expand availability of finance?

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.

Despite an increase in the level of uncertainty among small business owners, primarily caused by Brexit, there are some who are feeling more positive about the future. We open this Bulletin with findings from a survey of fast growth businesses which reveals the opportunities they feel Brexit will bring.

The start of April 2019 heralds the introduction of Making Tax Digital. Whilst some businesses see it as a distraction and additional administrative costs, there are benefits to embracing this new way of engaging with HMRC.

To close this Bulletin, a look at findings from Growth Street, a Peer to Peer lender, of how many entrepreneurs are still unaware of the sources of finance outside the main High Street banks.

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.

To open this Bulletin, we review findings from the latest SME Finance Monitor Report which reveals a continued fall in the number of businesses looking to borrow money. The spectre of Brexit and a general uneasiness about the economy appears to be haunting business owners.

For those businesses which are looking to borrow then easily finding a finance source can be time consuming; that’s where collaboration between operators in the finance sector can help. We look at how Starling Bank and Growth Street is one example of businesses joining forces to improve access to finance.

To close, Creditsafe the company credit rating agency, has issued its latest 3-monthly review which highlights a startling increase in both the number of corporate failures and bad debts. At least the report contains one bit of positive news to close this Bulletin!

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.

In the latest episode of the Business Finance Bulletin a review of the findings from the recent Small Business Finance Market Report. Released by the British Business Bank the report reveals that bank lending to SMEs is on the up and shares the sources of finance being used by small businesses.

Do you know the true of your business loan? That’s a question being posed by Growth Street, the alternative overdraft provider, as it calls for more transparent pricing via the introduction of an APR for SMEs.

Receiving payments via mobile phone may still be relatively new but we look at news from Paym, the mobile phone payment provider, on how usage of their service is rapidly on the increase.

And in the Business Finance Tip of the Week how a calculation taken from your Balance Sheet can test the strength of your solvency.

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.

In the latest episode of the Business Finance Bulletin Rob Warlow looks at an alternative to the traditional bank overdraft. With banks providing less support in the form of overdraft facilities a new service has been launched by Growth Street to fill the gap.

There is news of a possible rival to PayPal which could be marketed by Apple in 2016, so one to watch.
Turning to challenger banks Rob looks at the results from Shawbrook Bank which shows strong growth in profits and increased support to SMEs.

Late payment continues to be a problem for growing businesses and in a new survey Rob shares findings that many businesses are reluctant to chase for payment or even charge interest as is their statutory right.

One way to alleviate the impact of late payment is to look at Invoice Discounting. To see how this works Rob chats with Kelvin Thomas from ABN Amro Commercial Finance on how it helps growing SMEs.

If you prefer to listen to the podcast version of this week’s Bulletin listen in below or download via our Soundcloud or itunes channel.