http://www.atbusinessassociates.co.uk/2012/07/26/will-funding-for-lending-stimulate-sme-finance/ A new strategy in business Thu, 30 Aug 2018 11:13:44 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 http://www.atbusinessassociates.co.uk/2012/07/26/will-funding-for-lending-stimulate-sme-finance/comment-page-1/#comment-117 Bank of England lending figures highlight role of invoice finance | AT Business Associates Tue, 04 Sep 2012 12:34:01 +0000 http://www.atbusinessassociates.co.uk/?p=1530#comment-117 [...] that the creation of an SME bank might not be far off. Much depends on the performance of the Funding for Lending scheme and new lending figures have underlined the role of services such as invoice discounting. The idea [...] [...] that the creation of an SME bank might not be far off. Much depends on the performance of the Funding for Lending scheme and new lending figures have underlined the role of services such as invoice discounting. The idea [...]

]]> http://www.atbusinessassociates.co.uk/2012/07/26/will-funding-for-lending-stimulate-sme-finance/comment-page-1/#comment-116 Invoice finance key to European SME sector growth | AT Business Associates Wed, 29 Aug 2012 09:46:12 +0000 http://www.atbusinessassociates.co.uk/?p=1530#comment-116 [...] one month on from the launch of the Funding for Lending scheme and questions continue to be asked about how to stimulate SME lending. At the same time, new figures [...] [...] one month on from the launch of the Funding for Lending scheme and questions continue to be asked about how to stimulate SME lending. At the same time, new figures [...]

]]> http://www.atbusinessassociates.co.uk/2012/07/26/will-funding-for-lending-stimulate-sme-finance/comment-page-1/#comment-113 Why the lukewarm reception to the Funding for Lending scheme? | AT Business Associates Thu, 09 Aug 2012 09:24:32 +0000 http://www.atbusinessassociates.co.uk/?p=1530#comment-113 [...] The Funding for Lending scheme is only in its infancy but already there are reports of a lukewarm reception from businesses. Does this spell doom for the SME finance initiative or are we seeing the impact of the growth of alternative SME finance, such as invoice discounting and asset finance? Some commentators are writing off the Funding for Lending scheme, and in particular its ability to bolster bank small business lending, just days after its official launch. Certainly, the scheme hasn’t sparked an eruption of SME lending from banks, but given their track record in recent years, slow progress should hardly come as surprise. Indeed, this caution has led to significant growth in the alternative SME finance sector, with a wide range of new small business funding options emerging in 2012 alone, and arguably this expansion is another barrier to the success of the scheme, which notably doesn’t include third-party SME finance products. Businesses have turned to alternative finance and see little reason to change strategy. So, it can be argued that the Bank of England-backed scheme is hamstrung by a combination of an ingrained lack of confidence in banks and its narrow remit. However, the scheme shouldn’t be written off just yet, especially as the likes of invoice finance often work best when complementing the use of traditional SME lending services. Not that the alternative finance sector will be complaining too much about the position the banks find themselves in. A recent study recently cited by growthbusiness.co.uk highlights a growing trend away from bank SME lending, with over a quarter of entrepreneurs expected to use services such as invoice discounting and asset finance to source start-up funding. Dependence on banks continues to fall. So, the Funding for Lending scheme hasn’t burst out of the blocks, but perhaps it was never going to. The growth of alternative SME finance has become such that there was never going to be an immediate wide-scale return to banks. Banks will remain an established source of small business credit but services such as invoice finance are taking on an increasingly central role. To find out more about A&T Business Associates services, contact us on 01903 602211 or info@atbusinessassociates.co.uk. [...] [...] The Funding for Lending scheme is only in its infancy but already there are reports of a lukewarm reception from businesses. Does this spell doom for the SME finance initiative or are we seeing the impact of the growth of alternative SME finance, such as invoice discounting and asset finance? Some commentators are writing off the Funding for Lending scheme, and in particular its ability to bolster bank small business lending, just days after its official launch. Certainly, the scheme hasn’t sparked an eruption of SME lending from banks, but given their track record in recent years, slow progress should hardly come as surprise. Indeed, this caution has led to significant growth in the alternative SME finance sector, with a wide range of new small business funding options emerging in 2012 alone, and arguably this expansion is another barrier to the success of the scheme, which notably doesn’t include third-party SME finance products. Businesses have turned to alternative finance and see little reason to change strategy. So, it can be argued that the Bank of England-backed scheme is hamstrung by a combination of an ingrained lack of confidence in banks and its narrow remit. However, the scheme shouldn’t be written off just yet, especially as the likes of invoice finance often work best when complementing the use of traditional SME lending services. Not that the alternative finance sector will be complaining too much about the position the banks find themselves in. A recent study recently cited by growthbusiness.co.uk highlights a growing trend away from bank SME lending, with over a quarter of entrepreneurs expected to use services such as invoice discounting and asset finance to source start-up funding. Dependence on banks continues to fall. So, the Funding for Lending scheme hasn’t burst out of the blocks, but perhaps it was never going to. The growth of alternative SME finance has become such that there was never going to be an immediate wide-scale return to banks. Banks will remain an established source of small business credit but services such as invoice finance are taking on an increasingly central role. To find out more about A&T Business Associates services, contact us on 01903 602211 or info@atbusinessassociates.co.uk. [...]

]]>