News Tag: SMEs
March 16, 2010
A study by Lloyds TSB Commercial has revealed the impact the big freeze had on the UK's small and medium-sized companies (SMEs) earlier this year.
According to the research, the coldest winter in decades cost SMEs more than £7 billion.
Seven out of ten small firms were severely affected with snow and ice hitting deliveries and resulting in the firms to ...
Report reveals impact cold weather had on SMEs
by Kay Murchie
November 16, 2009
Business group, the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC), is claiming that small and medium-sized firms are still struggling to access finance.
The report comes despite the £200 billion injected into the UK financial system to boost lending.
According to the BCC, one third (33%) of companies surveyed said that accessing finance had been more difficult over the last three months ...
BCC survey claims firms still ’struggling to get finance’
by Kay Murchie
August 5, 2009
Abbey Business this week launched two new bonds paying up to 3.2% interest and aimed at SMEs.
The bonds, available to businesses with a turnover of up to £1 million, are available for business savings between £50,000 and £2 million.
The 12 month Fixed Rate Business Bond pays 3.2% gross pa/AER, maturing on 1 September 2010.
The 9 month Fixed Rate Business Bond pays 2.8% ...
Abbey launches 3.2% business bond
by David Masters
July 27, 2009
The Chancellor of the Exchequer is set for a run-in with the UK's bailed-out banks this week, over lending to small businesses.
The BBC has reported that Alistair Darling is "extremely concerned" that banks are charging high rates to small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs), despite pledges made on commercial lending in return for taxpayer support.
The Chancellor has invited bank ...
Chancellor faces out banks on lending to SMEs
by Gill Montia
July 19, 2009
The director general of the British Chambers of Commerce, David Frost, has warned that small and medium size businesses (SMEs) are particularly vulnerable to the swine flu.
Mr Frost told Sky News: “After a dramatic decline in the economy there is a touch more confidence coming back. But if swine flu does really take off then it will act as a major ...
BCC: SMEs ’vulnerable’ to swine flu
by Kay Murchie
June 22, 2009
Three in five UK-based small and medium-sized businesses (SMEs) have yet to feel the negative impacts of the recession according to a new study published this week.
The poll by Mr Site and PayPal found that almost two thirds of SMEs have not been adversely affected by the economic climate with no downturn in turnover since the onset of the recession.
Education, ...
Three in Five SMEs unaffected by recession
by David Masters
May 11, 2009
Alliance & Leicester (A&L) has launched a new nine-month fixed-rate bond aimed at small and medium sized businesses.
The Business Bond pays interest at 2.81% AER (2.80% gross), and matures on 1 March 2010.
SMEs with savings between £50,000 and £2 million can open the bond online, on the telephone, or in branch.
The bond will be available for a limited time whilst funds ...
A&L launches 9-month fixed-rate business bond
by David Masters
February 9, 2009
According to the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB), Government measures including the recent cut in VAT is having little or no impact at all.
The FSB said a survey of thousands of small-to-medium businesses (SMEs) revealed that Government measures aimed at improving trade and guaranteeing bank lending are not working.
The poll found that more than half had experienced a decline ...
Government measures including VAT cut not helping SMEs
by Kay Murchie
HSBC announces mortgage rate cut
by David Masters
February 1, 2009
A survey by the Confederation of British Industry (CBI) has revealed that jobs are disappearing at small and medium-sized manufacturing companies at the fastest pace in 20 years.
As the UK grapples with what is expected to be a long-lasting recession, SMEs can expect a tough first quarter as demand for goods from UK firms plummeted in ...
CBI survey warns of tough times for small manufacturing companies
by Kay Murchie
January 15, 2009
Twenty nine is the best age for setting up a new business, a recent survey has revealed.
Abbey Business Banking asked owners of small and medium sized businesses (SMEs) what they consider the ideal age to go it alone.
Twenty nine was the average age given by respondents, although almost a quarter (24%) said 25 is the best age for starting a business.
Abbey ...
Got a business idea? Act now
by David Masters
January 14, 2009
Business Secretary Lord Mandelson is set to unveil details of a loan which will kick-start lending to small businesses to help them weather the economic downturn.
According to Lord Mandelson, the plans will target ‘genuine business needs‘.
It is expected that Lord Mandelson will announce support for up to £10 billion in short-term loans for medium-sized firms to help them with their ...
Plans underway to boost lending to businesses
by Kay Murchie
December 3, 2008
Lloyds TSB has pledged to help its 600,000 small business customers by putting together a six-point 'charter' to help them weather the economic downturn.
The bank has also confirmed it will pass on, in full, any further cuts in interest rates throughout the remainder of 2008 and the whole of 2009, the measures will benefit customers with turnover up to ...
Lloyds TSB pledge to help small businesses
by Kay Murchie
November 24, 2008
The Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) has pledged to small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) who are suffering as a result of the economic slump.
Rising borrowing costs has had an affect on many firms and the new measures will see RBS freeze overdraft charges for its business customers for at least a year, commencing next Monday, December 1.
Furthermore, it has pledged ...
RBS pledge to help SMEs
by Kay Murchie
