Credit, Collections & Insolvency News
The Government has announced new measures to boost funding for small businesses. The new laws aim to help small businesses against unfair contracts that stop them raising money from unpaid invoices were put to parliament yesterday.
Small Business Minister Kelly Tolhurst put forward new laws to arm small businesses against unfair contracts that stop them raising money from unpaid invoices. Currently, a small supplier’s contract with a larger company may prevent it from securing invoice finance from providers such as banks and other investors.
Under the new proposed laws, any such contractual restrictions entered into after 31 December 2018, with certain exceptions, would have no effect and could be disregarded by small businesses and finance providers, which will help stop larger businesses from abusing their market position.
The new measures are expected to provide a long-term boost to the UK economy estimated to be worth almost £1bn.
Small Business Minister Kelly Tolhurst said “The UK’s 5.7 million small businesses are the backbone of our economy and central to our modern Industrial Strategy, with more than 1,000 starting up every day. These new laws will give small businesses more access to the finance they need to succeed and will help ensure they have a level playing field from which to set fair contracts with the businesses they supply.”
The proposed laws come as a number of larger businesses stop their suppliers from assigning ‘receivables’ – the right to receive the proceeds from an invoice. This assignment is essential for invoice finance to operate. Restrictive contract terms are often used by larger businesses to maintain a hold over their suppliers, with small suppliers often unable to negotiate changes to the proposed contract because they do not have enough power in the marketplace.
Commenting on the announcement, Christoph Rieche, CEO and Co-founder of SME lender iwoca said “The Government’s plan to make it easier for small businesses to access invoice financing is very welcome. For too long, small businesses have been hampered by larger companies restricting them from securing the critical finance they need to grow and thrive. Ending this practice will give small business owners some much-needed respite.”
“However, while it’s a step in the right direction, it is unlikely that this measure will solve the problem that businesses with less than £2 million in annual turnover face when accessing finance from high-street banks. Since I founded iwoca in 2011, these banks have slashed the number of overdraft facilities to this sector by roughly 50%. Breaking the financial stranglehold that banks have over smaller businesses will be a boon to the economy and to millions of people employed in the private sector.”