Northern Irish businesses had 93,000 overdue invoices on their books in April

Businesses in Northern Ireland had more than 93,000 overdue invoices on their books in April according to new research by R3. The report found that while the north recorded strong start-up numbers in 2022, there are signs of trouble ahead. Analysis of the data from business intelligence provider Creditsafe, show almost 3,000 new businesses were…

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Seven in ten small businesses predict significant growth in the next three-months

Seven in ten small businesses (70%) that predict significant growth in the next three-month say they will have to put plans on hold if they were unable to secure finance. Access to finance and borrowing is also urgently needed by small businesses most affected by COVID – those that either had to close or repurpose…

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UK businesses squeezing suppliers

Businesses are paying their suppliers even later, despite admitting that they have a responsibility to smaller firms, according to early findings from Intrum’s 2022 European Payment Report. The annual report by credit management services company Intrum surveyed more than 11,000 businesses in 29 countries. It found the business landscape under pressure from new uncertainty, while…

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Late payments worsen for small businesses

Small businesses had to wait an average of 29.9 days to be paid in April according to the latest figures from Xero. Average late payment days increased by 1.8 days to 7.7 days. This is the longest small businesses have had to wait to be paid since September 2020. Xero says tougher economic conditions caused…

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Delayed payments and insolvencies are predicted to rise

Delayed payments and insolvencies are predicted to rise in the consumer durables retail sector this year, reveals leading trade credit insurer Atradius. In its latest Industry Trends report on the retail sector, Atradius emphasises the importance of maintaining close working relationships with retailers, and acquiring real-time insight, as the key to navigating the next six months. Increasing…

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Value of UK business loans written off by banks nearly doubles

The value of UK business loans written off by banks nearly doubled in the last quarter of 2021, rising 87% from £190 million in the third quarter to £356 million in the fourth quarter according to new research by ACP Altenburg Advisory. The research report found that write-offs of loans were subdued throughout Covid but…

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Government urged to tackle cost of living crisis at root

Ahead of the Government’s plans to announce cost of living support measures to mitigate the impacts of rising prices, the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) is urging that the Government tackles the cost of living crisis at root. Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) Chair Martin McTague said “The cost of living crisis starts with a cost…

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Over a quarter of businesses see late payment delays increase

Over a quarter (26%) of UK small or medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) have seen the number of late payments they receive increase since the cost of living has gone up, according to new research from Barclays. The new findings indicate that rising prices have started to impact payments between businesses, as 16% of SMEs said that…

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Government approach to Covid business support will cost taxpayer billions

Billions of pounds of taxpayers’ money will be ‘lost to fraud and error as a result of the Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy’s (BEIS) approach to its Covid-19 business support schemes according to the Public Accounts Committee (PAC). Despite providing important support to businesses across the country, BEIS’ latest estimate is that £4.9…

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Asset finance new business grows by 13%

17th May 2022 Asset Finance | #asset finance

New figures released by the Finance & Leasing Association (FLA) show that total asset finance new business (primarily leasing and hire purchase) grew in March 2022 by 13% compared with the same month in 2021. In Q1 2022 as a whole, new business was 7% higher than in the same quarter in 2021. The IT…

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Lending to small businesses hits all-time low, with six in ten impacted by late payment   

New findings from quarterly Small Business Index (SBI) has warned that banks ‘are pulling up the drawbridge’ to small firms will further stifle economic growth as its new SBI study shows successful finance applications plunging over the first quarter of this year. Fewer than one in ten (9%) small firms applied for finance in Q1…

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Over a third of small business owners predict growth

Over a third (37%) of small business owners predict growth for the next three months, the highest figure since the pandemic started more than two-years ago. The new quarterly data from Novuna Business Finance also reveals that the percentage of small businesses predicting contraction has also hit a two-year low (falling to just 7%). Despite…

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Value of business loans written off by banks almost doubles

The value of UK business loans written off by banks nearly doubled in the last quarter of 2021, rising 87% from £190 million in the third quarter to £356 million in the fourth quarter according to research by debt advisory specialists ACP Altenburg Advisory. Altenburg explains that write-offs of loans have been subdued throughout the…

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