Credit, Collections & Insolvency News
SME lender, GC Business Finance (GCBF) has appointed Aaron Malins as Director of Business Finance. Malins brings over two decades of experience across finance, lending and advisory. He previously served as CFO of a Manchester-based regulated consumer finance firm, as well as Managing Director of its lending division. In these roles, Aaron worked closely with…
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A director of two companies which supported a scheme allowing business owners to keep their assets while dropping their debts has been disqualified. Suzanne Harley-Davies failed to exercise control of the affairs of Namare GRP Ltd and TPG GRP Limited during 2023 and 2024. She also failed to ensure that the companies operated for legitimate corporate…
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The number of SMEs using some form of credit to pay for one or more insurance policies has significantly increased, according to new research from Premium Credit. The data, which monitors insurance buying and how it is financed, shows 90% of SMEs use some form of credit when they buy insurance, compared with 54% recorded…
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New findings from fraud prevention service, Cifas, has revealed a shift in attitudes towards insider‑enabled fraud, with 13% of employees saying they have either sold their company login details to a former colleague, or know someone who has, in the past 12 months. For organisations, the normalisation of credential sharing significantly increases exposure to insider…
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UK businesses facing ‘critical financial distress’ have surged by 36.9% to 62,193 in Quarter1, according to BTG, while those in ‘significant distress’ rose 9.6% to 634,867 Rising labour costs, higher National Insurance contributions and sustained energy price pressures are hitting margins, particularly in hospitality and leisure. Industry experts warn that many “zombie” businesses are now…
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Lloyds Bank has cut its UK growth forecast to 0.5%, warning that the Iran conflict could trigger stagflation. The bank expects higher inflation, rising unemployment and a slowdown in the housing market. Elevated interest rates are likely to persist, further weighing on economic activity. Lloyds Business Barometer. shows that while overall business confidence fell 11…
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The Bank of England Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) has voted to keep interest rates on hold at 3.75%. At its meeting ending on 29th April 2026, the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) voted 8–1 to maintain Bank Rate at 3.75%. One member voted to increase Bank Rate by 0.25 percentage points, to 4%. The conflict in…
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The IoD Directors’ Economic Confidence Index, which measures business leader optimism over prospects for the UK economy, rose to -64 in April 2026 from -76 in March, but remained close to historic lows. Business leaders’ confidence in their own organisations also rose, to +8 in April from -2 in March. The data showed that cost…
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New business debt resolution company, Rezolva, has launched with the aim of helping businesses recover overdue invoices faster. Late payment remains a persistent challenge for businesses. More than half of firms experience delayed or frozen payments, placing pressure on working capital and limiting growth. Rezolva focuses on early debt resolution. The aim is to help…
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GB Bank has announced that Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Mike Says will retire from his role at the end of April 2026, he will be succeeded by Eddie Trahearn, currently Chief Strategy & Financial Officer, subject to regulatory approval. Since joining in 2021, Says has overseen rapid growth and transformation. Under his leadership, GB Bank…
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Latest figures from the British Retail Consortium (BRC) have shown that shop price inflation rose by 1% year-on-year in April, a slowdown from 1.2% in March and below the three-month average of 1.1% Non-Food inflation decreased to -0.1% year on year in April, against growth of 0.1% in March. This is below the 3-month average…
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Mid-market businesses are feeling overwhelmingly optimistic when it comes to their near-term investment in artificial intelligence (AI), according to new research from BDO, the accountancy and business advisory firm. The bi-monthly survey of 500 mid-market businesses revealed that the majority (97%) said they expect to see a return on their investment in AI within the…
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UK retail sales fell sharply over Easter as concerns over the Iran conflict weakened consumer confidence according to data from the Confederation of British (CBI) Industry which showed its retail index dropped to minus 68 in April, the lowest level since records began in 1983. Most retailers reported declining sales and expect conditions to worsen…
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