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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The credit crunch in 2008 was the start of the rise of the so-called Challenger Banks. This month, one of those early entrants, Aldermore Bank, celebrates its 10th anniversary. To open our latest Bulletin, we take a look at Aldermore’s achievements over the last 10 years.

When borrowing via a Limited Company, one downside is that lenders expect Directors to provide Personal Guarantees. Many can be reluctant to sign and in some cases it’s enough to put them off borrowing. However, that risk can be offset by taking out a Personal Guarantee Insurance policy. We take a look at how it works and where you can obtain such a Policy.

To close this Bulletin, news from The Small Business Commissioner that it has named-and-shamed another high profile business for its late payment practices. Another success story for the Commissioners Office with £32,000 paid following its intervention.

It has taken a while since the formation of the Small Business Commissioner office for them to name and shame a late payment offender, but the Commissioner has finally called out a well-known name. With the Commissioner’s focus on tackling late payment, will naming and shaming have an impact on other offenders?

Administrative tasks are not the favoured part of running a business. We look at the announcement from mobile-only bank Starling of its link up with cloud-based accounting package provider FreeAgent, which will reduce admin time and help with speedy production of Management Accounts.

To wrap up, our monthly look at activity in the Asset Finance sector with a mixed bag of results reflecting the degree of uncertainty which many business owners are currently feeling.

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.

We start our latest Bulletin with good news for businesses located in Northern Ireland with the announcement of the launch of the Northern Ireland Growth Finance Fund. With three major contributors including the British Business Bank, the fund will support businesses in the region with growth ambitions.

It’s 12 months since the Small Business Commissioner role was established. With the key focus being on containing late payment and acting as an arbiter between small and larger businesses, what progress has been made in its first year?

Complaints from small businesses about banks are common place, but for many businesses, they have no formal complaint process outside of the bank’s own internal department. We look at news that a voluntary process has been agreed between key UK banks which will help larger SMEs to resolve complaints.

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.

If you are one of the estimated 20% of small businesses which have run in to cash flow problems due to late payments, then help may finally be at hand.

The government has finally launched the complaint handling service of the Small Business Commissioner to ensure fair payment practices for small businesses. This follows the appointment of Paul Uppal to the role of Small Business Commissioner in October 2017.

The Commissioner’s website has also gone live, providing guidance on payment issues including how to take action if a payment is overdue.

Margot James, Small Business Minister, says that £14 billion is owed to UK small businesses and estimates that taking action on late payment could potentially deliver a £2.5 billion annual boost to the economy.

The Small Business Commissioner’s website provides guidance on how to ‘check, chase, and choose’ in respect of dealing with unfair and late payments, that is:

– check if the right information has been provided to the right people in order for an invoice to be paid
– chase effectively when a payment is overdue
– choose how to take further action, including the option of submitting a complaint to the Small Business Commissioner

You can visit the Small Business Commissioner website here.

After a long wait, the government has announced the appointment of the Small Business Commissioner. How will the new Commissioner, Paul Uppal, help small businesses, particularly when it comes to late payment?

Starling Bank, the mobile-only bank account provider, has announced the forthcoming launch of its mobile account service for businesses. They are looking for small business owners who are prepared to take part in the initial trial and help shape its look. Could that be you?

Carrying too much working capital can strangle growth. A new survey from Lloyds Bank has calculated how much cash businesses have tied up in surplus working capital. The amount, if released, could free businesses to fund their own growth plans.

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.

Access to finance can be a challenge at the best of times but research has shown that female entrepreneurs struggle more than their male counterparts when it comes to raising funds. In this episode of the Business Finance Bulletin we take a look at the launch of a new, female-only crowdfunding platform, which not only provides access to equity funding but also to an Angel Network, business support and mentoring.

One long awaited element of The Small Business Enterprise and Employment Act is the appointment of a Small Business Commissioner. Part of the role will be to ensure the scourge of late payment is tackled but it appears that government is still not ready to roll out this much-needed resource.

Having a clean Credit Report is often overlooked when it comes to raising finance and in this Bulletin, we share a recent lesson on why it’s important to know what your Credit Report contains.

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 this Business Finance Bulletin, we kick off looking at Trade Credit Insurance with news from the Association of British Insurers on how the sector performed in 2015 in respect of the amounts paid out.

The Small Business Enterprise Bill has now been given Royal Assent and we look at what we can expected in terms of tackling late payment.

A survey from Amicus Finance has looked at demand amongst business owners for sources of alternative finance. The findings reinforce the trend that alternative finance is going mainstream

In the Business Finance Tip of the Week three tips on how to choose the right Accountant for you and your business.

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 this episode of the Business Finance Bulletin Rob Warlow from Business Loan Services reviews the government’s latest moves to curb late payment by launching a consultation paper on the creation of the proposed conciliation service.

Late payment often affects the small time trades sector who can get caught by having to wait many weeks when customers don’t have sufficient cash with them to settle bills. Rob looks at new mobile payment service designed to combat this problem.

Turning to crowdfunding, Rob has news of initiatives brought out by ReBuildingSociety and Funding Circle to boost awareness and usage by both businesses and investors.

And in the Business Finance Tip of the Week Rob shares a salutary lesson about being prepared when it comes to raising finance.

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