With 2021 being the year where managing cash flow will be more important than ever efforts to reduce instances of late payment are always welcome. We open our latest Business Finance Bulletin with changes announced by the Prompt Payment Code which will see its members reduce the number of days taken to pay invoices.

If you are purchasing a commercial property which is subject to VAT then payment can put a strain on cash flow. We look at a new short-term loan launched by Just Cashflow which can assist in the up-front VAT payment.

To close, we review new analysis from the British Business Bank which reveals the top three regions which have taken advantage of the CBILS and Bounce Back Loans.

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To open our latest Bulletin, we review a survey from Hitachi Capital Business Finance which reveals that businesses are now prioritising growth plans over cost cutting measure. SMEs are focusing on three main strategies to boost business in 2020.

Mobile-only banking continues to provide an alternative to traditional High St bank accounts. Anna Money is one such bank which focuses solely on providing mobile banking for businesses. We take a look at the key features designed to support SMEs.

To close this Bulletin, news of action taken by the Prompt Payment Code against a number of household names which have failed to meet payment guidelines. The steps are intended to send a message to larger businesses that late payment is unacceptable.

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Rising out of the ashes of the credit crunch the alternative finance providers moved in to fill the gap left by the banks. To open this Bulletin, we look at how the alternative lenders are evolving with Iwoca announcing a milestone in lending and Nucleus Commercial Finance improving its loan repayment term.

Managing late payment can often be a burden for small business owners, which means action taken by the Prompt Payment Code to suspend members not adhering to its rules is good news. Which household names have been asked to leave the organisation?

To wrap up this Bulletin, we look at why you need to be aware whether your industry sector is in or out of favour with your bank before applying for 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.

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.

With increasing focus being given to tackling late payment, we open our latest Bulletin with news of tough actions taken by the Prompt Payment Code organisation to ensure its members adhere to guidelines.

A survey on how many business owners have a grip on their financial performance and key indicators reveals that many have a lot to learn. We look at why it is important to know your numbers especially when it comes to raising finance.

To close the Bulletin, we review the latest company insolvency statistics released by the Insolvency Service for Quarter 1 2019. Perhaps not unexpectedly, the figures make gloomy reading.

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.

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.

For many small businesses, banking and bookkeeping are their least favoured tasks. To open this Bulletin, we look at a new mobile-only bank, CountingUp, which has opened its virtual doors with a small business banking solution combining banking and bookkeeping in one app.

The availability of unsecured business loans from alternative finance providers has been a major boost for growing businesses. One such provider was Ratesetter, until their surprise announcement that they are pulling out of the unsecured business loan market.

Finally, to close this Bulletin, we look at the continued fallout from the Carillion collapse. Focus is now turning to the impact late payment is having on small businesses. In the Carillion case, questions are being asked as to what is the point of voluntary programmes, such as the Prompt Payment Code, when larger companies can easily ignore it? Is it finally time to get tough on late payment?

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.

The government is keen to be seen to be playing its part in tackling late payment and we start this Bulletin with an announcement that a large number of government’s key suppliers have signed up to the Prompt Payment Code.

With banks increasingly reluctant to hand out overdrafts, how are businesses managing cashflow? It seems the gap is being filled by businesses increasingly turning to invoice discounting. We look at the latest figures which confirm the switch to this alternative source of finance.

Lenders seem to want to see mountain of paperwork when they are reviewing your finance request. One request is sight of your Tax Returns but want exactly do they want? To close this episode, we go through the three pieces of information lenders want to see.

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 Business Finance Bulletin episode Rob Warlow looks at how late payment continues to get increased focus by the government with revisions of the Prompt Payment Code and proposed legislation. Rob also shares surveys carried out by the Forum of Private Business and the Federations of Small Businesses looking at the extent of the late payment problem.

More news about the government’s desire to regulate that banks must refer clients to alternative sources of finance in cases where they have been declined support by the banks. Rob discusses how the British Business Bank has been given the task to find suitable partners.

If you are an early-stage growth business looking to raise finance via selling equity then Rob shares news about the Sprint programme launched by crowdfunding platform Crowdcube.

And in the Business Finance Tip of the Week Rob chats with Mike Ogilvie of OBC Accountants in Eastbourne in which he shares three growth tips for businesses to act on.

If you would like to listen to this week’s episode in a podcast version you can download it via our Soundcloud page by clicking below

In the latest Business Finance Bulletin Rob Warlow looks at recent surveys from Close Brothers and the government’s Business Innovation and Skills Department on growing confidence levels amongst business owners in the UK.

Rob also looks at the latest figures from the Bank of England on the Funding for Lending Scheme which shows a continued downward slide in support from banks.

Late payment continues to be a problem for growing businesses and Rob looks at how the government is tackling the problem with revisions to the Prompt Payment Code and new rules designed to ensure the public sector pays on time.

In the Business Finance Tip of the Week Rob chats with Market Invoice, the online crowdfunding platform, which helps UK businesses unlock cash tied up in outstanding invoices.

If you would prefer to listen to the podcast version of this week’s Bulletin simply click below or download to your computer or phone.