Over two-thirds of UK SMEs (69%) have reported significant pressures on their cash levels according to latest insights from business lender MarketFinance. This is in large part down to businesses paying for supplies earlier than anticipated because of Coronavirus-related stockpiling and fears of deeper disruptions to transport (road, air and rail) linkages. Additionally, on orders […]
With International Women’s Day having been observed yesterday, female entrepreneurs are being celebrated worldwide. The government also announced a timely new fund, worth £3m, to support visionary women who are starting their own businesses in scientific fields and seeking innovative solutions for climate change, energy efficiency and health issues specifically. This new fund is a […]
Shawbrook Bank has started 2020 by re-shaping its approach to working with commercial finance introducers in the asset finance market. Appointing Glen Christie-MacAllan to the role of director of intermediary business, Shawbrook is shifting its focus towards closer partnerships with selected introducers as it seeks to respond to changes and direct feedback from the wider […]
Hundreds of thousands of British SMEs have been turned down for property finance in the past five years, a new study has revealed. Nearly a quarter of small and medium-sized companies said they had struggled to find the funds to move or expand – with inflexible lenders and a shortage of suitable property proving the […]
One of Australia’s leading funders of SMEs has warned that small businesses might face unintended consequences from the efforts to shut unfair supply chain finance programmes. After recent media attention and pressure from the office of the Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman, some of Australia’s largest companies are moving away from their early […]
Lloyds Banking Group has today announced that it has allocated up to £2bn of arrangement fee free finance assigned to specifically support Britain’s small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) to ensure that they have access to additional finance to overcome any impact COVID-19 causes to their cashflow. Relationship managers from Lloyds Banking Group speak to […]
There is a 43% gender pay gap among the self-employed, research by IPSE (the Association of Independent Professionals and the Self-Employed) has found. This is significantly higher than the 17% among employees. Unlike employees, the self-employed gender pay gap is not driven by employers undervaluing women. Instead, it is likely to be driven by self-employed […]
UK SMEs are calling on the Government to tackle issues around business rates, late payments and the rollout of 5G in this week’s Spring Budget, according to research from Nucleus Commercial Finance. In a survey of small business owners, which asked them about their views on predicted policy changes that may be included in the […]
As the impact of the Coronavirus outbreak begins to directly impact more businesses, NatWest has outlined the initial support it will provide to SMEs across the UK, including a £5bn Working Capital Support extension to its successful Growth Funding Package, ongoing support and practical advice for businesses. NatWest is the largest supporter of UK businesses […]
365 Business Finance, a direct financial provider working with small to medium sized companies, is marking this year’s International Women’s Day by launching the #SheLeads campaign – to run throughout the month of March – which follows successful and motivational business women. Coinciding with this celebration of female business owners, the London-based lender reveals it […]
