During 2014 BLS’s Rob Warlow has had the pleasure to chat to a number of business experts for our weekly Business Finance Bulletin.

In this first of two compilations of these interviews you will hear about the importance of managing your reputation with Alan Stevens; thoughts on key actions you can take to successfully grow a business from Robert Craven; Derek Arden on how to negotiate a better deal with your bank; and finally thoughts from Tim Luscombe on why you should keep accurate management information.

Keep an eye out for the second compilation which focuses on alternative sources of finance.

In the latest Business Finance Bulletin Rob Warlow looks the Chancellor’s Autumn Statement with the announcement of the extension of the Funding for Lending Scheme, and additional support for the Enterprise Capital Fund and Enterprise Finance Guarantee Scheme.

Late payment continues to feature on the agenda with news that the government is launching a consultation paper aimed at improving transparency amongst large businesses on their payment practices.

The recent SME Finance Monitor Report reveals interest insights in to the experience small business owners are having with their banks in terms of getting a finance approval. Rob looks at the numbers which shows why you shuld not assume your bank is going to say no if you approach them for business finance.

Agreeing the sharing of property security between different banks has always been a slow process but Rob discusses new arrangements put in place by the four High Street banks to speed up the process.

The Business Finance Tip this week comes from an interview Rob did with negotiation expert Derek Arden. In the interview Derek gives three tips on how to negotiate a better deal with your bank.

You can also listen to this week’s Bulletin as a podcast and you can download it to your PC or phone via our SoundCloud page. Click on the download button below or simply click to listen now.