Opening the latest Business Finance Bulletin, we review a report from the British Business Bank looking at the business borrowing market in 2020. Not surprisingly the report reveals that businesses took on an unprecedented level of debt.

With businesses going full out on CBILS and Bounce Back Loans the alternative finance sector, which was booming up until 2020, has taken a hit with falling demand. We look at news of one of the first casualties with Nat West’s announcement that ESME Loans is closing its doors.

To close, the roll out of Open Banking takes a step forward with news that 9 of the main High Street banks are to join forces to spearhead a joined-up approach to deliver a consistent offering.

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.

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 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.

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 open our latest Bulletin a look at a new survey from Menzies LLP which sheds light on how small businesses feel about their larger counterparts. Whilst there may be disadvantages to being small, the survey reveals several positives when it comes to competition.

We take our monthly look at activity levels in the Asset Finance sector which highlights how the volumes of business being transacted contrasts with that seen in the High Street banks.

To close, news from FreeAgent, the cloud accounting software provider, that it has signed up to Open Banking. We look at how this will prove beneficial to the nine banks within the Open Banking regime.

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.

The term Open Banking may still be a mystery to many people, but more lenders are beginning to adopt the technology and benefits it brings. We open our latest Bulletin with news that Boost Capital, the short term business finance provider, has embraced Open Banking to speed up the processing of finance applications.

New research from Experian, the credit reference agency, reveals that a high proportion of people have never checked their personal credit score. We look at why it’s important to do so, especially prior to applying for business finance. In the Bulletin we mentioned a longer video with tips on how to improve your business credit score.

To close, our regular look at activity in the asset finance sector. The latest figures from the Finance and Leasing Association show that in January, usage of asset finance bucked the trend in terms of appetite to invest.

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 kickstart our first Bulletin of 2019, a look at new research into the benefits of Open Banking. Following its launch 12 months ago, a survey reveals the level of awareness of what Open Banking has to offer and the benefits business owners say it brings.

The Small Business Commissioner, in conjunction with Lloyds Bank, has taken a look at the impact reporting requirements for large businesses has had on their payment practices. Perhaps not surprisingly, there is clearly still work to do in order to minimise instances of late payment.

With the Brexit date looming, we look at the latest government initiative to help businesses plan ahead for the proposed changes. The launch of an Exit EU website is designed to assist business owners identify how they will be affected and actions they can take.

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.

When the alternative finance providers entered the market to satisfy small businesses demand for finance, it was personal investors who provide the cash. We are now seeing institutional investors taking serious interest in the sector with announcements of tie-ups from Funding Circle and Thin Cats.

As well as holding back growth, late payment can have a costly impact on small businesses. BACS, the payment service provider, has taken a look at how late payment can affect small businesses, both in terms of cash and other knock-on effects.

To close this Bulletin, news from short-term lender Iwoca, which has announced agreements with another two major High Banks to utilise the benefits of Open Banking. Another step forward in speeding up access to 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.

With the 2018 Budget behind us we open this Bulletin by looking at finance-specific measures. The British Business Bank, the home to the government finance raising schemes, received several boosts from the Chancellor with the aim of securing business access to finance, particularly post-Brexit.

Earlier in 2018 we looked at the launch of Open Banking and how it is going to revolutionise applying for and controlling finances. How useful Open Banking is going to be is highlighted by the announcement from Iwoca that it has agreed a link up with Lloyds which will speed up access to finance.

To close this Bulletin, we review the latest quarterly statistics from the Insolvency Services. The Quarter 3 figures make gloomy reading with the number of businesses entering into an insolvency arrangement reported as on the rise.

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.

At the beginning of 2018, Open Banking was launched. Designed to improve access to finance by streamlining the application process, Liberis, an alternative finance provider, has announced its first use of Open Banking technology to renew one of its client’s borrowing facilities. The banking revolution is now underway.

Barclays Bank has announced two new initiatives to increase the level of support it provides to small businesses. Firstly, we look at the bank’s use of a £300m ENABLE Guarantee granted by the British Business Bank to boost Asset Finance usage. Barclays has also announced the doubling of its unsecured overdraft and business loan limits.

To close this Bulletin, we review the latest Asset Finance statistics from the Finance and Leasing Association. The statistics to May reveal that following a slow start to 2018, Asset Finance volumes jumped in May with strong performance in purchase of commercial vehicles and plant and machinery.

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.

According to the Registry Trust, 2017 saw a significant jump in the number of County Court Judgments registered. Is this a sign of toughening economic conditions or businesses being more aggressive when it comes to tackling overdue payments?

Since its launch in January, Open Banking has been gathering support primarily amongst the smaller, so called Challenger Banks. The latest bank to embrace Open Banking is mobile-only Starling Bank. It has announced a tie-up with TrueLayer which will act as a link between Starling Bank customers and alternative finance providers.

One of the more challenging aspects of starting a business is arranging finance. Where do you go? That’s a question posed by Hitachi Capital Business Finance when it spoke to start ups and younger businesses. We take a look at where business owners are getting their money from.

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.