Cyber-attacks and cyber security never seem far from the headlines these days. If you were hit, what would be the financial implication for your business and could you withstand the impact? That’s a question posed by Lloyds Bank in a recent survey. What can you do to protect yourself? One way includes checking your IT system with companies such as www.pisys.net

The charge of the mobile-only banks continues. We look at the announcement from Starling Bank of the launch of its business account service. What features does the account have for businesses keen to switch to mobile-only banking?

We finish this edition with news from Crowdcube, the equity raising crowdfunding platform, that over the next five years it’s aiming to double the number of deals originated outside of London and the South East.

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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.

Perhaps it’s no surprise that business confidence is swinging back and forth in reaction to global and local events. That’s the findings from the latest Lloyds Bank Business Barometer report which we review in our latest Bulletin. However, it’s not all doom and gloom with some glimmer of positivity reported!

Managing financial tasks can be a headache for many businesses. This is why Starling Bank, the mobile-only banking channel, have teamed up with an invoice issuing, online solution provider Albert, to streamline invoicing and bank reconciliation. Could it help you reduce time spent on administrative tasks?

To close this Bulletin, we look at the 4th annual report from the Cambridge Centre for Alternative Finance which reveals a continued rise in the use of alternative finance. Who are the businesses tapping into this growing, almost mainstream, form of 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.

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.