A recurring theme in recent Bulletins has been emerging evidence of reluctance among small business to borrow and this trend is a highlight of the latest SME Finance Monitor Report. The report also reveals the top three issues which are of most concern to small businesses. Is access to finance still an issue?

Late payment has been another constant problem we have regularly featured in our Bulletins. In an effort to curb late payment the Government has called for thoughts from businesses on how it can tackle this problem. Do you have an idea to contribute?

To close this Bulletin, a look at a new £100m fund launched by the British Business Bank. With a large portion of angel investment focused on the South East, the Regional Angels Programme aims to improve access to early stage equity finance across the whole of the UK.

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Of those businesses which borrow money, what do they typically spend it on? To open this Bulletin, we review findings from Liberis, the short term lender, when they posed this question to their clients. The feedback reveals a variety of uses for finance raised, however one reason given does flag up a potential area of concern in terms of business health.

We are undoubtedly in uncertain terms and the latest Federation of Small Businesses survey confirms this by revealing a dip in business confidence levels. The FSB’s recent quarterly Small Business Index highlights the feelings of uncertainty and also identifies other areas which are of concern to UK small businesses.

To close, thankfully some positive news! Crowdcube has announced that it has hit a milestone in terms of £1 million plus equity raises. The news shows that far from being suitable for small finance requirements, equity crowdfunding is meeting the needs of larger, more ambitious business owners.

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Financial fraud can be complex but sometimes a fraud can be relatively simple. We open our latest Bulletin with findings from research undertaken by RSM into the rising frequency of mandate fraud. What is it and what can you do to avoid being taken in by this fraud?

According to a new survey carried out by the British Business Bank, appetite among small businesses to grow is strong. We share how many are entrepreneurs are held back by a lack of awareness as to where to find appropriate finance.

To close, news from HSBC of the launch of its 5th SME Fund, which sets aside cash specifically for UK small businesses. We look at how the latest Fund has a particular focus on supporting smaller businesses who want to increase exports.

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 recent Bulletins, we have shared news of various collaborations between finance providers. The latest is an announcement from Barclays Bank of a tie-up with online Invoice Discounting firm MarketInvoice. This is another example of Old World meets New World.

The most recent statistics to Quarter 2 2018 on company insolvencies has been released by the Insolvency Service. Not surprisingly, but not of any less concern, is the news that insolvencies are on the rise. What impact will the latest increase in Interest Rates have on those businesses already struggling?

To close this Bulletin, our monthly look at borrowing levels among small business. Once again, from the latest Bank of England and UK Finance figures, business owners still appear to be reluctant to borrow and instead are busy hoarding cash.

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 often share news of how the British Business Bank has supported lenders by providing funding for on-lending to growing businesses. We open this Bulletin by taking a look at the British Business Bank’s contribution to improving access to finance as detailed in their latest Annual Report.

New research carried about by the Lending Standards Board and Business Debtline has revealed that lenders need to provide more support to vulnerable business owners. We look at how these two bodies can assist businesses which find themselves in challenging situations.

In recent Bulletins we have featured news that small businesses are feeling less than optimistic about their prospects. However, according to latest research from Nat West, mid-sized businesses are feeling more confident about the economy and their business performance over the next 12 months.

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.

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.

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We open our latest Bulletin with findings from a new survey undertaken by the British Chamber of Commerce which reveals that businesses continue to shun debt. Other than taking on finance to support day-to-day cashflow, the report highlights how businesses are becoming apathetic towards debt, particularly for medium to long-term investment.

The key reason for the unwillingness to seek new finance is a lack of confidence in the economy. This is borne out in the latest Lloyds Bank monthly Business Barometer report, which finds that business confidence levels plunged in May. What’s driving this?

Finally, we close on a positive note! New research from the British Business Bank finds the more businesses are accessing growth finance by selling equity. The annual Small Business Equity Tracker report reveals that 2017 saw a jump in both deal numbers and average deal size. Could you access equity to fund your growth plans?

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Buying a franchise is a way of minimising the risk when starting a business. However, funding the purchase can be a challenge. To open our latest Bulletin, we look at news that Hitachi Capital has acquired Franchise Finance Ltd which provides hands-on support to people looking to buy into a franchise.

Continuing a trend emerging over the last few Bulletins, we review recent figures from UK Finance which reveal that borrowing levels among small businesses continue to fall. Are we seeing the early signs of forthcoming slowdown?

Whilst we are seeing business borrowing levels decline, the opposite is happening to business savings. Businesses are hoarding more cash than this time last year. Although cash held in banks is on the increase, are businesses getting the best interest rates?

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.

Accessing finance via Angel investors is one source of growth finance. Who are these investors and what do they look for when taking a stake in a business? To open this Bulletin, we look at the latest annual Angel investor review undertaken by the British Business Bank and the UK Business Angels Association.

Since its inception in 2010 Funding Circle has supported thousands of small businesses via its business loan product. To understand the impact their support has had on the UK economy Funding Circle teamed up with Oxford Economics to carry out an in-depth study. The results show how access to finance can have a positive knock-on effect in the economy.

Despite the benefits of sensible borrowing the latest report from the SME Finance Monitor team reveals that demand for finance remains weak. The report highlights how the number of businesses declaring they have no intention of borrowing money has reached a new high.

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.