Facilitating SMEs

Tech Nation

Life after death: Tech Nation rises once more

TECH Nation is officially relaunching to work with the UK government as “an independent voice” for founders, and to help tech entrepreneurs to thrive...
Rishi Sunak, UK Chancellor

British business leaders have their say about the Budget

YESTERDAY’S Budget announcement by Chancellor Rishi Sunak has opened the floodgates: comment is flooding in to BV. Here we list some of the most recent...
Social investment. Diversity, inclusion. Hands linked, ethnicity

Inclusive investment plan for under-represented groups

BIG ISSUE Invest, UnLtd, and Shift have jointly announced a growth fund “to level the social investment playing field”. The social investment fund offers flexible...
Hands, calculator, paperwork

Bid to ease virus impacts on cash flow ‘flawed’ — CEO

THE UK government’s proposed Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme (CIBLS) is coming in for some criticism. HM Treasury and the Bank of England last week...
SME loan legislation illustration

Trade body’s plea over conflicting SME loan legislation

THE NATIONAL Association of Commercial Finance Brokers is calling on the government to intervene over SME lending policies. In an open letter to City Minister...
Aldi trollies

Rise and rise of the budget supermarket

Aldi looks to replicate its monumental success across Europe by opening hundreds of new stores across America, while its almost identical rival Lidl is...
Money, squeeze, SME borrowing

£672bn of SME borrowing is unprotected: Legal & General

LEGAL & GENERAL estimates a business protection gap of £672bn for SMEs — with an overall gap estimated to extend into the trillions. Following their...
Accounts, late payment illustration

Cash on the barrelhead, or cheque in the post?

Entrepreneurs say ‘enough is enough’ as late payment crisis worsens THE FEDERATION of Small Businesses has released a report uncovering “the true scale” of damage...

ICC & WTO Launch Small Business Champions Initiative

A joint effort to facilitate participation by smaller companies in international trade was launched today by the Director-General of the World Trade Organization (WTO),...
Microsoft for Start-ups, Ansarada

Global partnership to give start-ups wings

A NEW global collaboration aims to make it easier and faster for start-ups to raise capital and grow. Start-ups play a pivotal role in a...